Munio Weinraub, Reform School "Gil Am" (Shefaram, Israel,1964)

The exhibition on the Bauhaus-trained architect Munio Weinraub (1909 - 1970) and his son, the internationally acclaimed director Amos Gitai (born 1950), presents a protagonist of New Building in Israel and a critical filmmaker and chronicler of his country. In doing so, it mirrors the turbulent history and socio-political developments and problems of Palestine and Israel. Munio Weinraub was one of the most important architects during the establishment of the state of Israel. He designed residential homes, kibbutz settlements and schools and submitted as far back as 1942 the first project for the Yad Vashem memorial. Centrepiece of many of the films by his son, who trained as an architect, are buildings. In 1978 he achieved international success with his documentary "House", which takes as its subject a building in West Jerusalem as a way of portraying the displacement of people and re-occupation, the loss and significance of ones country. In "A House in Jerusalem" and "News from Home" Amos Gitai follows the history of the house over some 26 years and describes the turbulent and painful situation between Israelis and Palestinians. In more than 40 documentaries and feature films Gitai has presented the human and political problems in primarily the Middle East and critically reflected on them. The exhibition shows architectural drawings and models as well as films, Accompanying programmes examine this complex theme in greater breadth and depth.