1st exhibition in the 20th Nidbach series | Two Rotten Souls

Visitors to Ido Gordon’s exhibition are welcomed by “A Skull Floating upon
the Water.” The skull, painted in pink on a large fresco, becomes an integral
part of the entrance wall. The image of a bat appliqued on a white body-bag
is the backdrop for “Two Rotten Souls” – two transparent jerrycans
filled with filthy river water.

“Ido said we should go on a boat ride. I was happy to do so— it seemed like a great bypass for us to take while we worked on his exhibition. Seeing it as an out-of-the- studio learning experience that reminds you of the critical role of reality, it was also a day trip of two friends. Maybe he thought of us as Huck and Jim.

We first decided on a vessel. I preferred a motorboat because of its efficiency in covering distance. Roaming through a museum, I like a quick first round before “rowing” leisurely back to the important parts.

We ended up in a rowboat, which turned out just fine. Bit by bit we learned our way
up the river, glancing at rowers passing at dolphin-like speed, and accompanied
by a friendly drone (Ariel).

I made some coffee, tea, and snacks, and wrapped everything in a plastic bag.
Ido brought two jerrycans to collect rotten river water: it had something to do
with exchanging fluids as a form of male bonding.

We suddenly heard a noise. “What was that?” we asked in unison. Dreading
the worst, we found a fish in our picnic basket.  With no idea of how he got
there, we accepted him as a sign from above or from the watery torrents below.”

Drora Dominey