NEW MEMBERS 2007

This year’s “New Members” exhibition presents eight artists whose media, background, artistic standpoint and seniority seem very different from each other. However, a closer glance reveals thin lines of resemblance, concealed dialogues and interconnecting ideas. Dina Berman presents miniature sculptures carefully shaped from carved wood and papier-mâché. The reduced scale confronts the viewer with its minute dimensions, forcing upon him a different kind of observation. Enhanced surroundings and staged situations are also typical of the photographic works of Anatoly Davidkovitch. Anatoly presents a group of photographs created from a classical starting point – the relation of artist and model. Through this he ponders upon questions such as what is identity? What is a relationship? What is real and what is staged. A theatrical sensibility may also be found in the video work of Sharon Balaban, presenting an original and surprising perception, she creates a drama by very minimal means using music and motion in a uniquely humoristic way. Noa Charuvi presents oil paintings based upon photographs of her home environment. The meticulous implementation, the intense and at times psychedelic colorfulness, as well as the choice to show these places in with untypical manner of lighting, creates an unreal sensation: a dream, a secret or a nightmare. The dream presence can also be found in the works of Nava Revital depicting members of her family in their sleep. Her works create a tension between the tranquil situation of sleep and the expressive and vigorous manner in which this subject is treated. Ruth Schreiber constructs her sculptures of surprising combinations of home utensils and other unusual materials. She disconnects objects identified with the familiar soothing home environment, and by a new combination creates an experience of de-familiarization. The oil paintings by Rachael Cobert Weiner are also created from the intimate gaze at her close environment. The subjects: still life, interiors, a view reflected from a window has been dealt with by painters in all generations. Rachael sophisticated manipulation deals with the three dimensions and flat surface borders upon the abstract. Landscape paintings from an entirely different point of view appear in the works of Reuven Zahavi. This series of works depict a virtual landscape created by a unique computer program developed by Reuven himself. The name of the series “Hissufim” which means in military slang demolition and the cleaning up of a build area, charges these works with a painful actual meaning – what seems to be an imaginary landscape, maybe even a view on another planet, is actually the landscape of our own planet, which has lost its identity as a result of brutal human interference.

Lena and Oded Zaidel

About the exhibition

This year’s “New Members” exhibition presents eight artists whose media, background, artistic standpoint and seniority seem very different from each other in every possible aspect. However, a closer glance reveals thin lines of resemblance, concealed dialogues and interconnecting ideas.Dina Berman presents miniature sculptures carefully shaped from carved wood and papier-mâché. The reduced scale confronts the viewer with its minute dimensions, forcing upon him a different kind of observation. This miniaturization creates a state of discretion and seductive concealment, attracting the spectator to the inside. Despite the figures’ anonymity, the images and objects created with infinite patience produce well defined situations. The viewer, who is invited to draw himself nearer, becomes a voyeur almost against his will.Enhanced surroundings and staged situations are also typical of the photographic works of Anatoly
Davidkovitch. Anatoly presents a group of photographs created from a classical starting point – the relation of artist and model. Through this he ponders upon questions such as what is identity? What is a relationship? What is real and what is staged? And to where do the borders of normality stretch?
A theatrical sensibility may also be found in the video work of Sharon Balaban, presenting an original and surprising perception, she creates a drama by very minimal means using music and motion in a uniquely humoristic way. The video-art addresses the viewers’ system of associations providing an amusing mixture of cunningness and innocence.

Noa Charuvi presents oil paintings based upon photographs she made of her home environment. Most of the works depict sites characterized by an intensive human activity such as playgrounds and construction sites, all empty of human presence. The meticulous implementation, the intense and at times psychedelic colorfulness, as well as the choice to show these places in with untypical manner of lighting, creates an unreal sensation: a dream, a secret or a nightmare.

The dream presence can also be found in the works of Nava Revital depicting members of her family in their sleep. Her works create a tension between the tranquil situation of sleep and the expressive and vigorous manner in which this subject is treated. The figures are asleep, but the painting itself remains alert, creates a sort of restlessness in the viewer and maybe raising the question – in what way does the sleeping person remain close to us?

Ruth Schreiber constructs her sculptors by creating surprising combinations of home utensils and other unusual materials. She disconnects objects identified with the familiar soothing home environment, and by a new combination creates an experience of defamiliarization. The sculptures touch upon subjects such as: the cycle of life, birth and destruction, inviting us upon a journey through time – to the world of childhood or to the painful memories of previous generations.

The oil paintings by Rachael Cobert Weiner are also created from the intimate gaze at her close environment. The subjects: still life, interiors, a view reflected from a window have been dealt with by painters in all generations. Rachael sophisticated manipulation deals with the three dimensions and flat surface borders upon the abstract. An original point of view appears beyond the classical issues: the painting is built in a soft tonality of thin paint surfaces – almost deprived of capacity. The “Sfumato” effect and the blurring of outlines create a quiet meditative atmosphere.

Landscape paintings from an entirely different point of view appear in the works of Reuven Zahavi. This series of works and the video depict a virtual landscape created by a unique computer program developed by Reuven himself. These works continue the series “Hissufim” this time by adding to the landscapes (which are computer outputs on paper) a manual treatment – drawing with colored chalk (sanguine). The name of the series “Hissufim” which means in military slang demolition and the cleaning up of a build area, charges these works with a painful actual meaning – what seems to be an imaginary landscape, maybe even a view on another planet, is actually the landscape of our own planet, which has lost its identity as a result of brutal human interference.

Lena and Oded Zaidel