Aharon Bezalel: Sixty Years of Creation

Aharon Bezalel’s exhibition concludes sixty years of work and presents sculptural landmarks from different periods in his life. This current exhibition examines his works in the context of local and international contemporary art, indicating the relevance of his art here and now. Bezalel started out by creating miniature figurines linked to the world of jewelry making. Slowly, his works came to be monolithic sculptures, mostly made of wood but also bronze, and later sculptures in superhuman size – totem poles that control nature. His works convey a feeling of tactility that invites the viewer not only to look, but to touch and caress, as an intimate and direct hug with the figure. This quality is recognized in the bronze sculptures of human and animal figures as well as in the sculptures that appear to portray formative and material elements that by splitting the mass with nails and stakes have a connotation to violence. This feature is the link between his miniature, jewelry-like sculptures and his large scale sculptures, and belongs not only to Bezalel’s sculptural language, but also to the tight connection he creates between his works and man. A connection that certainly exists in his figurative sculptures, but also exists as a reference point in his abstract works. In retrospect, it appears that Bezalel’s work can be ascribed to the group of first rate Israeli sculptors, as well being understood in light of Israeli trends and artistic streams.