Listen to the lost voices of Mizrachi and Sephardi Jewry in Sydney

Coinciding with this year’s Vivid Sydney festival will be a powerful and moving “Recollections”,  a new immersive exhibition by internationally acclaimed Israeli multimedia artist Dor Zlekha Levy.

Presented by Shalom Collective, the exhibition will be on view from 20 May to 15 June 2025 at Forum Projects Gallery within the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, offering visitors a deeply personal journey into the rich and often overlooked histories of Mizrachi and Sephardi Jewish communities.

Through an innovative blend of sound, digital reconstruction and storytelling, “Recollections” invites audiences to step into the memories of communities whose traditions have too often been forgotten. Dor Zlekha Levy describes his work as an act of amplifying these voices, stating, “My work is about giving forgotten voices a space to be heard. Through sound and digital reconstruction, I want audiences to connect with these communities’ memories in intimate and thought-provoking ways.”

The exhibition features three of Levy’s major works, each offering a unique portal into the emotional and historical landscapes of Jews from Arab lands. “Maqamat”, created in collaboration with Aviad Zinemanas in 2017, revives the lost sounds of Jewish Iraqi musicians, while “Shomer” (2019) reimagines the historic Magen Avraham Synagogue in Beirut. “Omek-Umk” (2021) explores the intricate connections between language, memory and cultural hybridity, weaving a narrative that bridges ancient traditions and contemporary identity.

Rabbi Alon Meltzer, Director of Programs at Shalom Collective, emphasised the significance of the exhibition, stating, “For too long, the voices and stories of Jews from Arab lands have been underrepresented in Jewish cultural discourse. “Recollections” is a vital opportunity to explore and celebrate these histories — where heritage, memory and contemporary art intersect.”

Dor Zlekha Levy is a celebrated multimedia artist whose installations explore themes of memory, displacement and identity. His work has been featured at prominent venues including the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, the Israel Museum and Ars Electronica, among others. Through his projects, Levy echoes forgotten traditions through a modern lens, ensuring these cultural legacies are both remembered and reimagined for new generations.

Presented by Shalom Collective, an organisation dedicated to creating contemporary Jewish experiences that celebrate culture, deepen identity, and build community, “Recollections” promises to be a powerful exhibition running concurrently with Vivid Sydney 2025. Visitors can expect to be transported beyond time and place, connecting intimately with narratives that have shaped, and continue to shape, Jewish cultural identity across the world. Admission to the exhibition is free.

For more information, tickets and full exhibition details, visit:
https://www.shalomcollective.com.au/whats-on/recollections