The Wisdom of Contemplation

► opening: Sun. 2.9.07 at 18:00
Yehoshua Hass born Antwerp Belgium 1921, was the only Holocaust survivor of his family; He immigrated to Israel in 1944, died in Jerusalem, 2006.
Yehoshua Hass’s art is a visual expression of real sights filtered through all his senses. In his early years, his palette was colorful dominated by the color red, while in his later years the palette becomes calmer, including soothing bluish tones, perhaps indicating a calmer view of life. His renderings are either panoramic, or focus on a single item such as a lonely tree against a broad background. Examining his object closer, the background may nearly disappear, and the objects take on a sculptural quality. Hass’s art fluctuates between natural spatial renderings of the landscape and city views to semi-abstract patterns achieved through the flattening of the landscape, into squares of differently colored shades. Landmarks such as the golden cupola of the dome of the rock in the Old City, a chimney from Motza, or a universally recognizable arrow returns the viewer to reality. He often uses different painting techniques for the same view; an oil painting, a gouache and a watercolor of the same place create a fascinating comparison. This exhibition shows samples of this ongoing, never ending search, covering the major periods in the artist’s life.

About the exhibition

Yehoshua Hass was born in 1921 in Antwerp, Belgium. As the only Holocaust survivor of his family he immigrated to Israel in 1944. Hass spent his whole artistic carrier here, in Israel first in Northern Israel and since the eighties in Jerusalem, where he passed away at 2006.
Since early childhood, Yehoshua Hass aspired to immigrate to Israel. He realized this wish after numerous escape attempts, while being prosecuted during World War II. After his immigration Hass lived in Ein Karem. Since 1953 he lived and created Art in Haifa and Shavy-Zion. From the early eighties onwards he returned to Jerusalem where he lived and worked. Parallel to his artistic work, Hass taught Painting and Art History .Many students of different age groups were deeply influenced through the personal and sincere guidance of their art teacher Y. Hass.
Yehoshua Hass’s art is a visual expression of real sights filtered through all his senses. Closely connected to his life, it expresses everything from a relaxed holiday mood to times of crises and war.
In his early years, his palette is colorful dominated by the red color, while in his later years, his palette becomes calmer, including soothing bluish tones, perhaps indicating a calmer view of life. His renderings are either panoramic, or focus on a single item such as a lonely tree against a panoramic background. Examining his object closer, the background nearly disappears, and the objects take on a sculptural quality.
Hass’s art fluctuates between natural spatial renderings of the landscape and city views to semi-abstract patterns achieved through the flattening of the landscape into squares of differently colored shades. Landmarks such as the golden cupola of the Dome of the Rock in the Old City, a chimney from Motza, or a universally recognizable arrow returns the viewer to reality. He often uses different painting techniques for the same view; an oil painting, a gouache and a watercolor of the same place makes for a fascinating comparison.
Yehoshua Hass’s artistic output constitutes a multifaceted dialogue between Nature and himself. This exhibition shows samples of this ongoing, never ending search, covering the major periods in the artist’s life.