‘Harb’ is part of an ongoing series entitled ‘Songs of the Next War’ by artist Dor Zlekha Levy. This series of works is based on an archive of Zionist war songs that were recorded in Israel during the Six-Day War (1967). These songs, sung in Jewish-Arabic dialects to Arabic folk tunes, were not included in any of the main collections of Israeli war songs and have been forgotten over the years. After being rediscovered by the artist, he invited electronic music producers to create a contemporary and personal interpretation of the songs. These war songs were sampled and processed into new musical pieces, published in a music album entitled ‘Songs of the Next War’. These songs were also performed live in multi-media events that were conducted in Israel over the past two years.

In relation to these new musical pieces, the artist has created original video compositions and installations based on a personal archive of memories and experiences of war. ‘Harb’ is an audio visual sequence that is based on these compositions. ‘Harb’ explores the identity conflict presented in the original records, made by Jewish musicians who migrated to Israel from Arab countries. As these musicians integrated into the Zionist state, they kept the language and culture that identified with the nation’s enemies.

The overall project portrays today’s atmosphere in Israel, where dreams of common reconciliation are confronted with an endless loop of war that the society seem to be trapped in.