Thursday, April 19, 2018

Je T'aime... Exhibition at The Design Museum



To understand what this exhibition is about, one has to come with some prior knowledge of the basic background, otherwise all one sees is three dark spaces (galleries) with a bunch of personal clothes& accessories, and noisy sound from video screens placed all around.


clothes (upper gallery)

The exhibition is dedicated to movie actress and filmaker, Ronit Elkabetz (its full name  is "Je t'aime, Ronit Elkabetz).
She was born in Israel, the daughter of moroccan immigrants from Mogador (Morocco); achieved her fame as movie actress both in Israel and in France, died untimely leaving two 4-year old twins, and a husband (a well-known israeli architect). 


on famous magazine covers (at the entrance of lower gallery)

photos of R.E. at various ages (lower gallery)

more photos of the actress  (lower gallery)

Her personality was a combination and a dialogue of East (moroccan
roots) and West (french culture), Periferie (born in israeli desert town Beer-Sheba, childhood  and adolescence  in northern small town Kiryat Yam) and Center (Tel Aviv, Paris, ), Fashion ( model, in the beginning) and Movie making.

The exhibition, so we're told, started with a research of her wardrobe.Her clothes and accessories  collected over four decades were donated to the museum by her husband , her parents, and the rest of the family.


video screen and outfits (upper gallery)

As mentioned in the catalogue of the exhibition, behind every item there was a story or memory of some kind, and the item was accompanied by a little written note on that. She believed garments had a soul and showed respect to them by way of wearing and folding them with care and love. Clothes were for her a tool and a language for self-expression.

necklace (intermediate gallery)

shoes (intermediate gallery)


yellow, phantasy dress (lower gallery)

black, long gown (lower gallery)

She had dramatic looks: black hair, pale skin, dark eyes, and she often wore black outfits; some of her roles in the movies she played ,also had a certain dark aura about them (she always reminded me of Maria Calas, the greek, dramatic opera singer). And now, the dark spaces at the exhibition - perhaps signifying a state of mourning and loss for her untimely departure.


black, elegant dresses (upper gallery)


white outfit with dots (upper gallery)

coats (upper gallery)

mirror reflection (upper gallery)

The screens along the gallery displayed fragments from her movies, and from attendance at various cultural events.

video screen, one of many.

As a graduate of the fashion section in her high scool - fashion making,  was her dream, but Fate wanted something else for her. She became an actress by chance. And then she tried directing and screen writing and was quite successful (she won prizes and awards).

It was probably all too good to be true...and she left the scene, her family, this world at only 52 years of age following a battle with cancer.  RIP ,Ronit Elkabetz!

28 comments:

  1. It seems a lovely tribute to her memory.

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  2. She'd probably love the exhibition herself.
    I also love to use clothes to express my personality. I always wear navy blue which radiates with calmness and trust, and also violet and green which feed the people around you with energy even without them noticing it. I much prefer giving people energy, even casual passers-by than wearing black which gives an impression of walls and coldness.

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    1. Your colours are indeed enegy giving. Many people, women in particular, prefer black because they believe it makes them look slim and elegant.

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  3. So nice how your post also becomes like a tribute to her, by your loving sharing. It was interesting to read about her fashion and the talk about colors and attention she gave to dress.The darkness of the exhibit and the black she wore do give a somber mood with her untimely passing, but I felt light coming through in your presenting it and in all the hopes she had in her creative life. I pray light and comfort to her family that are left behind. Blessings !♡

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    1. Nicely put. While there, I felt that her outfits, and the snippets from her movies displayed on the video screens, were the light in the darkness that we so look for in our daily life.

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  4. I, too, observed the dark lighting and several dark beautiful outfits. My girls and husband are dark and look fabulous in black but it seemed like more was conveyed in the museum tribute to Ronit Elkabetz than just a preferred style. I noted her twins came later in life too and although she had to leave her little ones, at least she enjoyed them for a few years. As sad as this story is, I don't feel down about it. She used her talents and seemed to live a good life so I celebrate that with you in your tribute to this actress.

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    1. Yes, marriage and kids came late into her life, but as they say,'better late than never'.
      All in all she's got a good life, one of big achievements.

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  5. What pretty dresses etc. She did leave this earth too young. Nice her family has these clothes to remember her by

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    1. Physically she was slim, so whatever garment she wore, looked good on her. She had about 500 pieces of clothing in both her wardrobes in Tel Aviv and Paris.

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  6. Like the draping in the mirror reflection.

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  7. Yes, the whole reflection is beautiful!
    There were some personal corners that particularly attracted the attention of visitors, such as the mirror table and the laptop table with a pile of books on it.

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  8. What a lovely tribute to this woman. I don't like dark rooms, not as I age and my eyes feel weaker!
    I HAVE heard of Maria Callas, however!

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    1. Though Maria Callas was an opera singer, not just an actress, the best side of both was the dramatic side.( I think the opera singer also died untimely, about the age of 54)

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  9. I am unfamiliar with Ronit Elkabetz, but she certainly was a striking, beautiful woman...such strong features.

    Beautiful garments and accessories...and I love that yellow. So vibrant...so full of life.

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    1. The yellow dress, cut in the shape of a circle (sun), was created by a morroccan-israeli designer, and it was the dress she wore on her last public appearance.

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  10. It is often difficult to take photos in museum spaces, Duta, but you have documented your visit and shown us more of this remarkable woman. Thanks.

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    1. You're right; it's difficult to take photos in museums, especially as this exhibition had a lot of dark corners within the displaying galleries.

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  11. All looks great! Love the yellow color dress.

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  12. I liked this post particularly, as I've always loved fashion. The Exhibition looks interesting with much history about an actress and film maker and displaying many unique outfits and accessories. The yellow flowing dress caught my eye. It sounds like she appreciated clothes and wore them well.

    Splendid post, Duta.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Fashion was her first love, and she went on with it even more strongly after she entered the movie world. She never stopped designing or taking interest in it.
      Thanks for stopping by, Sheri.

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  13. "Behind every item there was a story or memory of some kind."
    And so, we have our own story as well, though it may not be as great as other's.

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    1. Rught.The story told by the exhibition is made up of all those memories written on the little noteS that accompanied the various displayed garments.

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  14. Cancer! Too many are taken by it. Thanks Duta for showcasing her life a bit. She lives on through people not only the exhibit but when people like you share about her.

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    1. She has left quite a heritage behind her: movies, outfits, and she also had a social agenda regarding women of oriental descent, being the head of a movement called My Sister (Achoti, in hebrew). And, of course, her kids.

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  15. Hello, DUTA. What a fascinating post and beautiful exhibit, albeit one with a very sad ending.

    And thank you for visiting me at Marmelade Gypsy. It's a pleasure to "meet" you.

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    1. Welcome, Jeanie.
      Nice to 'meet' you too, and thanks for the lovely comment.

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