Baal HaSulam [1] is a speculative portrait, seeking to trace fluctuations in the balance of power relations between truth and fiction, original and imitation. In a time when the notion of “truth” is fluid and subject to interpretation due to the prevalence of advanced technologies, Elad Larom delves into the status of painting and the painter as mediators of reality.
Larom brings together religious art and contemporary AI technology. He borrows concrete images from the vast visual repertoire of medieval and Renaissance art, employing the traditional fresco technique (mural painting executed on wet plaster), which was widely used in interior wall decoration in religious buildings.
In the AI software, Larom combines images from art history with photographs of his own work and content from the worlds of science and science fiction. Through textual instructions, he manipulates the algorithm to produce images with aesthetic characteristics of frescoes. The images challenge a long-standing religious-Christian iconographic tradition, undermining it and the establishment it represents. The expropriation of religious content gives rise to archetypal, universal images.
The exhibition features frescoes on terracotta panels in a square uniform format, alongside charcoal and pastel drawings on paper inspired by the cartoons (preparatory drawings) used as basis for the murals. While the medium is different, the works share the same features. The compositions demonstrate a fragmented, enigmatic “frame” featuring a figure or an event, much like a cinematic close-up. They are charged with alertness and tension, indicating the presence of a powerful higher force. A rich repertoire of facial expressions, bodily gestures, and expressive hand positions, identified with religious art, recurs in the works, driving the visual drama and pointing to a hidden layer concealed within the body of the work.
In Baal HaSulam, Larom establishes a fictional mystical-symbolic world which is not founded on a distinct corpus, hence disallowing a conclusive interpretation. Through the veil of mystery shrouding the works, however, despair, helplessness, and death flicker. The ostensibly impossible encounter between religious art and artificial intelligence enables Larom to move freely between periods and styles, creating a timeless dialogue between the tangible, the spiritual, and the digital. Whether “deliberate forgeries” of ancient icons, representations of worship and adoration for a futuristic religion, or metaphorical fragments, Larom’s new icons evoke thoughts about the fragility of human existence.
Sally Haftel Naveh
[1] Heb. “Owner of the Ladder”—name given to Yehuda Leib HaLevi Ashlag (1884–1954) after his commentary on the Book of Zohar.
CV
1976 Born in Israel
Lives and works in Ramat Gan
Education
2016-2017 ALMA, Home for Hebrew Culture, associates’ program
2008-2010 MFA program, Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem
2002-2006 Bachelors of Fine Arts, Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Audiovisual Department, Amsterdam, NL
1996-1997 BFA program, Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem
Solo Exhibitions
2013 “I, Walid Lacham”, The new and the Bad Gallery, Haifa. Curator: Netali Levin
2014 “Smoke Screen”, International Studio & Curatorial Program, NYC, USA
2015 “Neo Paganism”, Inga Gallery, Tel Aviv
2016 “The devil probably”, The white city center, Tel Aviv
2017 “Cave of Multiplication”, Beit Uri and Rami Nehushtan Museum, Kibbutz Ashdot Yaakov Meuhad. Curator: Smadar Keren
2017 “Die to live”, Hayarkon 19, Tel Aviv. Curator: Boaz Arad
2018 “Voodoo child”, Galería Agencia de Tránsitos Culturales, santa cruz de Tenerife, Spain
2021 “Forever Happiness”, Gallery 4, Tel Aviv
2021 “The void”, Framed, Berlin, Germany
2022 “All things must pass”, Artist residence Herzliya. Curator: Ran Kasmi-Ilan
Selected Group Exhibitions
2011 “A Functional Dreamworld”, Art Cube, Jerusalem. curated by Sandra Wiel
2011 “Magic without tears”, Abulafya site specific, Tel Aviv
2011 “The secret eight or the House of mysteries”, Hissin house of Yigal Ahouvi art collection, Tel Aviv. curator: Sarit Shapira
2012 “Black box”, Billboard Art Project, Jerusalem
2012 “Dumb and Dumber”, Minshar Gallery, Tel Aviv
2012 “Lean?”, The Center for Digital Art, Holon
2012 “Bezalel on Tour”, MICA, Corcoran Gallery, Maltz Museum, USA
2012 “1+1”, Hamelacha Workshop Gallery, Tel Aviv
2012 “Eyes in the back of the head”, The Center for Digital Art, Holon
2012 “You are hereby permitted”, Feinberg Projects Gallery, Tel Aviv
2013 “Reunion with someones friends”, Aktuelle Kunst aus Tel Aviv, Frise Kunstlerhaus, Hamburg, DE
2014 “The Towering Inferno”, Selected Works from the Igal Ahouvi Art Collection, Curator: Sarit Shapira
2015 “Tuned”, Elma Arts Complex Luxury Hotel, Zichron Yaakov. Curator: Sarit Shapira
2015 “Prima facie”, Selected Works from the Igal Ahouvi Art Collection. Curator: Matan Daube
2015 “Gatherer / Nonfunctional Display״, The Jerusalem Artists’ House. Curator: Tali Ben Nun
2016 “The Black Art”, Rosenfeld Gallery, Tel Aviv. Curator: Ron Bartos
2017 “Cherries”, Hamidrasha Gallery, Tel Aviv. Curator: Boaz Arad
2018 “Between walls”, Binyamin Gallery, Tel–Aviv. Curator: Gal Attya
2018 “There will be nothing”, MFA Gallery, Tel Aviv. Curator: Itzhak Livne
2018 “Home/Guest”, The artist studios Jerusalem. Curator: Tamar Gispin,
2018 “Local print”, The print workshop Jerusalem. Curators: Irina Gordon and Tamar Gispin
2018 “Why do cockroaches die on their back”, Shoken 6, Tel Aviv. Curators: Ishai Shapira and Eran nave
2018 “The Third Space”, Beit HaGefen – Arab-Jewish Cultural Center, Haifa. Curators: Yael Messer and Hadas Zemer Ben-Ari
2019 “wall art”, Digital artlab Holon. curator: Udi Edelman
2019 “Drop Dead Funny”/Současné izraelské umění – vernisáž:”, art house Brno, Czech Republic. curator: Sally Heftel,
2019 “Solitude cell for the anonymous smoker” Ventilator at the Lobby gallery, Tel Aviv. Curator: Ishai Shapira Kalter
2020 “Works on paper”, Galería Agencia de Tránsitos Culturales, santa cruz de Tenerife, Spain
2020 “Heroica”, Schau Fenster gallery, Berlin, Germany
2020 “Dance Bar”, OfnoBank space, Tel Aviv
2021 “Darkness”, Parter Gallery Tel Aviv
2021 “Ghosting”, A duo exhibition with Roi Carmeli at Barbur, Jerusalem. Curator: Avi Kritzman
2021 “Short terms”, Tel Aviv Museum of art. Curator: Ishai Shapira Kalter
2022 “Who’s last in line?”, duo with Matan Golan at the Artists’ studios Tel Aviv. Curator: Eitan Buganim
Funds and prizes
2019 Art book fund by Mifal Hapais, produced by The Artist Residence Herzliya
2018: Israeli ministry of culture Encouragement prize
2017: Rabinovich Foundation, art book fund
2009: Encouragement Award. M.F.A Bezalel, Eileen and Donald Cooper Award. M.F.A Bezale