Introductory Remarks:
Nomadic Homes and Homey Travels

The "Art and Nomads: The Other Nature" Project and Conference embraces the organizers, artists, presenters, and participants from around the world.

The Project explores nomadism from its historical function as a societal order to its revival by contemporary itinerant individuals and groups. It also revisits many popular post-colonialist clichés. The artworks and presentations address a topical challenge of our times: the tension ever more accessible and ever-changing world, and the longing for stability and a sense of belonging in one's own home. Despite our varied home locations and time zones, the web tools we utilized enabled our virtual journey to the same digital meeting place. As a symbolic and performative gesture of present-day mobility, I chose to communicate with the conference participants from my office and desktop computer, but rather from a car using a mobile phone, mentally departing from Israel to the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Belgium, and beyond. 

Currently in Israel, we are witnessing the tragic reality of both a vulnerable haven at home and restricted mobility because of merciless acts of cruelty and violence committed by the Hamas terrorists and their allies. Our hearts are with our children, brothers, and sisters, who courageously left their homes to defend us and the values of our civilization, armed with weapons and guided by humanity and compassion. Each of the Israeli children, seniors, men, and women who were abducted from their homes more than two months ago are in our souls, minds, and prayers.

The "Art and Nomads" endeavor fills us with optimism for a brighter future by virtue of art, creative thinking, and human cooperation.

Ilia Rodov,

Art History Professor and Head of the Department of Jewish Art,

Bar-Ilan University, Israel