Architecture of an Existential Threat - 9783903462076

• This is the first book which offers a broad cultural and geographical typology of shelter spaces in Israel

• The fantastic photographs seek to straddle the distinct worlds of fine art and reportage exploring ideas of modern Israeli identity

• The photographer approaches the interiors with a careful and patient eye to the aesthetic composition of the space, in the historical tradition of architectural photography, with the goal to offer the viewer the empty space for personal reflection and contemplation

From its foundation in 1948, the state of Israel has felt isolated and under threat from enemies. This collective siege mentality manifests itself with over 1 million public and private shelters. The Israelis have integrated these 'Doomsday spaces' into their everyday life and transformed them into spaces that look like normal dance studios, bars or temples. For many people in Israel who live with a personal history of exile and persecution, these shelters are the architecture of an existential threat both real and perceived. Adam Reynolds shot the images in this book over the course of three years, from 2013 to 2015. The photographs offer a broad cultural and geographical typology of the shelter spaces by documenting them on either side of the Green Line, throughout Israel and the Occupied Territories, in an effort to offer the broadest survey possible. They straddle the distinct worlds of fine art and reportage. "Working in a country like Israel, it is difficult, if not impossible, to separate art from social reality," says Adam Reynolds.