Ruth Patir: (M)otherland

Ruth Patir's multi-channel video work animates Iron Age female figurines to explore gender, motherhood, fertility, and reproductive rights through personal and political lenses.

Why go

Originally created for the 2024 Venice Biennale, this U.S. premiere weaves digitally animated archaeological artifacts with recorded conversations to examine bodily autonomy, medicalization, and state intervention—particularly Israel's IVF policies—alongside a fifth video addressing collective mourning after October 7, 2023.

What to expect

Five videos featuring digitally animated Iron Age female figurines (based on 800–600 BCE artifacts) that serve as avatars exploring themes of fertility treatment, gene mutation diagnosis, and state-mandated reproductive pressures, culminating in a poignant reflection on how personal narratives intersect with political and historical forces.

Things to know

• Originally commissioned for the Israel Pavilion at the 2024 Venice Biennale
• U.S. premiere of (M)otherland at The Jewish Museum
• Five-video installation including Keening, created after October 7, 2023
• Animated figurines based on archaeological artifacts from 800–600 BCE whose meanings remain uncertain
• Draws on artist's personal experiences following a gene mutation diagnosis
• Explores Israel's state-funded IVF policies and reproductive rights

Plan your visit

Museum hours: Sunday–Monday and Friday–Saturday 11am–6pm; Thursday 11am–8pm; closed Tuesday–Wednesday. Tickets available through the museum's ticketing system.