Adina Kraus grew up in Australia, studied art there and began building her career through exhibitions and the creation of a gallery and studio space. But October 7 brought everything to a halt.The Hamas attack on Israel sparked an anti-Israel and antisemitic wave unlike anything Australia had experienced before, she says. “Everything changed. It became a very difficult time for Jews in Australia, and especially for artists and creative people,” Kraus told ynet. “There were a lot of cancellations of exhibitions and performances, and I personally felt blocked, like I could no longer create or exhibit. No one wanted to collaborate with me or see my work.”4 View gallery Adina Kraus (Photo: Sarah Lolan)As a Jewish-Australian artist, Kraus said she came to understand that she no longer had a place in the country’s art community. “Suddenly, no one wanted me in their studio or in their galleries. I had two exhibitions planned for 2024 and both were canceled. I reached a point where I felt lost,” she said.What did the organizers say? How did they explain the cancellations?
“Most of them didn’t respond to my inquiries at all, or they made nasty comments. It became an environment where it was impossible to create in a culturally safe way. There were also Jews who left influential positions on university boards, and there were galleries that decided to stop accepting funding from Jewish donors, and then they simply closed.“I decided that I wanted to keep making art, and not only for a Jewish museum, but for the entire art world. That is why my decision was to make aliyah, and I am very happy I was accepted to Bezalel. I feel like it is a second chance. It is a place where I can work freely.”So everything changed in one moment? On October 6, Australia was wonderful, and the next day it became impossible to live and work there?
