Jewish Artist: Leonard Cohen, “A Crack in Everything”

Leonard Cohen “A Crack in Everything”, Jewish Museum New York, April 12 to September 8, 2019

Originally organized by the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC), with curators John Zeppetelli, Director of the MAC, and Victor Shiffman, the exhibition at the Jewish Museum of New York New is coordinated by Kelly Taxter, Barnett and Annalee Newman. It includes works by Kara Blake, Candice Breitz, Janet Cardiff & George Bures Miller, Christophe Chassol, Tacita Dean, Kota Ezawa, George Fok, Ari Folman, Jon Rafman, Taryn Simon.

Those who never stopped saying “Ring the bells that still can ring / Forget your perfect offering ,/There is a crack, a crack in everything /That’s how the light gets in” finds there all his dimension of singer, composer, poet and short story writer.  A poet of “vocal imperfection”, he knew how to confess the imperfections of the human condition. He gave voice and meaning to the complexity of our bodily desires as well as to our more metaphysical hopes.

Body and soul are always deeply intertwined in him, not without a deep sense of sadness, which was reflected in his classical songs: “Suzanne,” “Bird on a Wire,” and “Hallelujah.” Just as the songs on his latest album, full of gravity and grace.

The artist has never failed to describe in a singular language the spiritual and earthly thrills of seeking that which remains unreachable but which we long for.

This journey still inspires many artists in search of the human mystery.

This exhibition includes them. They show how Leonard Cohen influenced them both through his personality and his work.

It is also possible to enjoy at the Jewish Museum versions of the poet’s originals by Lou Doillon, Feist, Moby. And this is just one of many, since 14 artists and 18 musicians from 10 countries are gathered here for an exploration of the artist’s work.