The Zetlin Collection, donated to the city of Ramat Gan by Maria Zetlin in 1959, includes works by prominent painters who worked in Russia and France in the early 20th century. The collection was formed during the golden age of performing arts, at the center of which was the activity of the Ballets Russes under the direction of Sergei Diaghilev. Many of the artists who are featured in the exhibition collaborated with Diaghilev and other dance and theater creators, designing sets and costumes for various productions. The drawings they created as sketches for costumes were collected by Maria and Mikhail Zetlin, becoming one of the central and distinctive aspects of the collection.
The exhibition title is inspired by Nikolai Gogol’s short story, in which a new winter coat changes the life of Akaky Akakievich. The story embodies the idea that a garment is not simply an item of clothing, but a magical object, serving as cover, shelter, and status symbol, which has the power to transform the life of the person who wears it.
Following this idea, the exhibition features a selection of artworks from the Zetlin Collection, alongside works by contemporary Israeli artists whose practice combines visual arts, theater, and textile design. The diverse works in this exhibition recount a complex and multi-layered story. They touch on themes of cultural identity, folklore, gender, and history, and marry the worlds of theater and performance with painting and sculpture. This is the third exhibition that centers on a timeless dialogue between works from the Zetlin Collection and contemporary Israeli art.
