Parkes Institute PhD student to launch new exhibition on ’The Wandering Jew’
The Parkes Institute is delighted to host the launch of ’The Wandering Jew’ travelling exhibition, curated by Anoushka Alexander-Rose, with the support of Charlie Knight.
Reframing the Wandering Jew from its origins in medieval Christian myth, this exhibition presents how the legend evolves across time and cultures. It draws on an expansive set of sources including Romantic and Gothic literature, Yiddish drama, Jewish visual art, Rabbinic sermons, Nazi and anti-Nazi film, and 21st century regenderings of the myth. A particular highlight is a specially commissioned print, ‘Flight’, by artist and sculptor David Hochhauser. These diverse forms and genres reflect the relevance of the Wandering Jew, representing Jewish exilic experience but also more widely universal themes of myth, migration and memory.
Speaking of the exhibition, Anoushka said: "As a student of English and Russian literature, my first engagement with the Wandering Jew was my discovery and translation of a dramatic prologue titled ‘Agasfer’ by Vladimir Nabokov, which he wrote in 1923. I continued research into the legend and how it has evolved through art and literature for my MA and PhD and thought it would be perfectly suited to a travelling exhibition for a wider public audience, and to reflect the itineracy of the myth.
The exhibition has three main aims: to explore examples of the legend being used as vessels for Jewish/non-Jewish rapprochement, to showcase how Jewish writers and agents have reclaimed the Wandering Jew to represent exilic experiences, and to speak to more universal and contemporary issues of myth, migration and memory. It’s really exciting to see my research in this way — thanks also to the creative insight of Valley Graphics, support of the Parkes Institute, and funding from the Jewish Historical Society of England and German History Society — and with a few future venues lined up, I can’t wait to see where it will go!"
The exhibition features insights and contributions from the wider Parkes Institute community, including Charlie Knight, Noëmie Duhaut, Neil Gregor, Tony Kushner, Claire Le Foll, and Katie Power.
Launch Event
On Wednesday 13 November, the Parkes Institute and the University of Southampton will host a launch event for the exhibition. Come along to see the exhibition before, much like the Wandering Jew, it travels across the UK. The launch will see Anoushka introduce the project and give a reading of the first translation of ‘Agasfer’ by Vladimir Nabokov, after which attendees are invited to explore the exhibition along with refreshments. Register to attend the event .
