Exodus 2048
Mixed-media installation – maze, 6 texts in lightboxes 40 x 40 cm (ground floor), refugee camp (clocktower)
Produced by Van Abbemuseum for Be(com)ing Dutch, Eindhoven/NL, 2008
Recreated at the New Museum, New York, 2009
The project was presented at the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven as part of the “Be(com)ing Dutch” exhibition, Michael Blum’s 2008 installation “Exodus 2048”. Its resonance with the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict is striking. Blum constructs an alternate realm where the United States withdraws support for Israel, resulting in a threefold increase in the Palestinian population and compelling the evacuation of Israelis. The title itself, “Exodus 2048,” indicates this new exodus transpires in 2048, a century after Israel’s establishment. The narrative follows the accommodation of 4,500 expatriates across different public buildings in the Netherlands. Blum conveys this through six news-style texts displayed on lightboxes, complementing the reconstruction of a refugee camp. Though glimpsed through suspended white curtains, the scene reveals metallic beds, portable televisions, wooden shelves, food packages, clothing, personal photos, toys, and boxes, evoking a tumultuous atmosphere. Israeli flags, spray-painted Stars of David, and slogans on the walls highlight the harsh living conditions and reference Zionist mythologies. Blending intricate historical references, spanning religion and politics, with thought-provoking ideologies, Blum’s installation provides an intellectually engaging glimpse into an inverted world. It serves as a dual portrait, projecting both a future vision and a past portrayal that poignantly captures present emotions, convictions, and scars.