Biography
Myriam Cohenca is a Franco-Israeli peace advocate, visual artist, and photographer based in Tel Aviv. Her work resides at the intersection of contemporary art and activism, focusing on human rights, exile, identity, and the environment, particularly within the complex landscape of Israel-Palestine. She reflects on the beauty, injustices, grief, hope, and struggles of the region, aiming to imagine a radically different reality.
Recent projects include publications with Writehaus and Suboart, as well as exhibitions at WithDraw the War and Grosso Modo (Tel Aviv), Art Number 23 (Barcelona), and Millepiani Gallery (Rome). In October 2024, she will participate in a residency with Frenkiel Ponti to prepare for her first solo show, which will open in Tel Aviv that same month.
Alongside her artistic practice, Cohenca works as a freelance visual communication specialist and photographer while completing her master’s degree in plastic arts at the Sorbonne. With a background in psychology, fine arts, and photography, she brings a multifaceted perspective to her work. She continues to explore new mediums and collaborations, focusing on creating work that bridges art and activism, and looks forward to future projects that further this mission.
Artist statement
Myriam Cohenca is an Arab Jewish artist and peace activist whose work addresses political oppression and human rights struggles through dreamlike abstraction and poetic expression. Engaging deeply with themes of exile, displacement, and identity, she creates art that is rooted in specific locations and contexts, often focusing on sites of trauma and personal significance.
While primarily a photographer, Cohenca has expanded her practice to include video, text, and art direction, aiming to create a more immersive experience. Her work often juxtaposes intimate shots with expansive views, symbolizing the interplay between personal struggles and collective resilience. Subjects such as bodies and the sea serve as symbolic anchors for her exploration of political and human rights issues.
Influenced by artists like Ana Mendieta and filmmakers such as Andrei Tarkovsky, Cohenca combines writing about raw emotions with filmmaking, turning these texts into visual narratives. She is also exploring sound, both through collaborations with sound artists and by creating her own soundscapes, enriching the sensory depth of her work.
Her art is marked by a liminal quality, capturing the in-between moments of dusk and dawn that resonate with her identities, political convictions, and inner world. By grounding her work in place and using poetic expression, she creates a deeply evocative visual language that explores transitional spaces and imagines radical new ones.
Looking ahead, Cohenca plans to explore her Arab Jewish heritage, particularly from the Ottoman Empire, in future projects. These projects will delve into her family's cultural legacy, aiming to shed light on historical narratives and personal connections. Her work aims not only to document but to bear witness and take a stand on social and political issues.