In Trembling Times, Yael Bartana (1970, Israël) harnesses the immediacy of neon to give form to an atmosphere of collective anxiety and instability. The phrase - glowing, fragile, and exposed - echoes Bartana’s broader artistic practice, which frequently probes the intersections of politics, identity, and historical trauma. Known for her powerful use of symbolism and her questioning of national narratives, Bartana evokes here a visceral sense of unease that resonates with both past and present crises.
Created in 2017, the work continues to speak powerfully in today’s fractured world. As wars, displacement, and social unrest persist, Trembling Times serves as a stark, poetic reminder of our shared vulnerability and the urgent need for reflection, resistance, and repair.
Yael Bartana
Trembling Times, 2017
Neon
Location: Barrelroom at Quinta do Quetzal.
