Waterfall | Winner of the 2023 Miron Sima Prize for the Visual Arts

*Due to the current security situation, exhibition dates may change.

2023 Miron Sima Prize for the Visual Arts, was on the theme of “Twilight”

Excerpts from the Committee’s Comments

Asaf Elkalai’s work is underlain by different tensions, manifested in his movement between spaces, situating himself in the indefinite range of twilight zones, which are often geographically and socially peripheral areas. Elkalai’s unique language shifts between diverse media, including drawing, photography, video, pottery, performance, etc. In his work, he lingers on structures, processes, images, and actions which take place outside the ordinary linear time. Alongside these, he integrates spatial architectural interventions as part of the work’s essence. These interventions invite the viewer to a performative act in the exhibition space, which complements the artist’s own action.

The exposure of various physical and social relationships, while observing the creative process and art’s place in the personal as well as collective existential reality, is also a reflexive expression regarding the political-social reality in Israel, especially at the present time.

Asaf Elkalai is a graduate of the Department of Photography (BFA) and the Master’s Program in Fine Arts (MFA), Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem

Prize Committee: Etti Abergel, Drorit Gur Arie, Hadas Maor

Asaf Elkaki – CV

B. 1986 in Kerem Ben Zimra, Israel.

Lives and works in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Education

2017-2018      Hebrew Cultural Studies | “Alma” cultural and intellectual center | Tel Aviv, Israel

2015-2017      MFA | Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design | Tel Aviv, Israel (graduated with honors)

2012-2014      Art Education Diploma | The Hebrew University | Jerusalem, Israel

2010-2014      BA in photography | Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design | Jerusalem (graduated with honors)

Solo Exhibitions

2021     “Four Eyes” | Bar-David Museum of Art and Judaica |  Kibbutz Bar’am, Israel. Curator: Avi Ifergan

2019     “Works” | Museum-lab  | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Curator: Zena Ruiz

2017     “MFA Graduate Exhibition” | Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design | Tel Aviv, Israel. Curator: Nicola Trezzi

2015     “Artist Wall” | Inga Gallery | Tel-Aviv, Israel. Curator: Revital Gal

2014     “BFA Graduate Exhibition” | Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design | Jerusalem, Israel

Selected Group Exhibitions

2023     “Material Imagination” | The permanent exhibition of the Tel Aviv Museum | Israel. Curator: Dalit Matatyahu

2023     “Through the Mirror” | Moby Bat Yam Museum of Art | Bat Yam, Israel. Curator: Hila Cohen Schneiderman

2022     “Hoshen” | Moby Bat Yam Museum of Art | Bat Yam, Israel. Curator: Hila Cohen Schneiderman

2022     “Lifting the Switch 4” | Annual Tel Aviv Municipality Festival | Tel Aviv, Israel. Curator: Meital Manor

2022     “Sauvage” | Shenkar Bursa Art Gallery | Ramat Gan, Israel. Curator: Meital Aviram

2021     “Yellow Brick Road” | Bar-David Museum of Art and Judaica |  Kibbutz Bar’am, Israel. Curator: Avi Ifergan

2020     “The Promise” | CCA |  Tel Aviv, Israel. Curator: Nicola Trezzi

2020     “Shutters and Stairs” | Israel Museum | Jerusalem, Israel. Curator: Aya Miron

2019     “No Body No Earth No Blood No Land” | Bar David Museum | Kibbutz Bar’am, Israel. Curator: Avi Ifergan

2018     “Code vs Code” | Tel Aviv Museum of Art | Tel Aviv, Israel. Curator: Irit Hadar

2018     “Living Plateaus” | Photography Department Gallery of Bezalel | Jerusalem, Israel. Curator: Ilanit Konopny

2018     “Aesthetics and Bias” | Arsenal Municipal Gallery | Poznań, Poland. Curator: Marek Wasilewski

2017     “Current Affairs” | Helena Rubinstein Pavilion, Tel Aviv Museum of Art | Israel. Curator: Doron Rabina

2017     “Erase \ Rewind” | Gabirol gallery | Tel Aviv, Israel. Curator: Anat Martkowich

2016     “Zoom 2016 – Young Israeli Artists” | Ticho House, Israel Museum | Jerusalem, Israel.

Curators: Tal Bechler and Ghila Limon

2015     “Eau&Gaz” | Lanserhaus Museum | Eppan, Italy. Curators: Kathrin & Sarah Oberrauch

2015     “Photography Graduates Exhibition” | The Museum of Photography | Tel-Hai, Israel Curator: David Adika

2014     “Video+” | Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv Museum of Art | Tel Aviv, Israel

2013     Betsal’el St 7 Image-Room Gallery | Jerusalem, Israel

2011     “Bezalel – Legacy Innovation Inspiration” | Sotheby’s gallery | London, UK. Curator: Janis Blackburn

Residencies & Projects

2024     Future: Westwerk | Humburg , Germany

2023     Future: Artport Tel Aviv | Tel Aviv , Israel

2022     Artist in Residence | The School of Multidisciplinary Art, Shenkar | Tel Aviv , Israel

2019     Artist in Residence | The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture | Madison, ME, US

2019     Artist in Residence | Classrooms Without Borders | Pittsburgh, PA, US

2018     Artist in Residence | Buffalo JCC | Buffalo ,NY, US

2016     Institute of Investigative Living A-Z West – Andrea Zittel | Joshua Tree, CA, US

2015     Artist in Residence | EAU & GAZ | Eppan, Italy

2014     Exchange Artist Program | Aesthetics And Bias | Poznan, Poland

Awards

2023     Asylum Arts Small Grants Program

2022     Young Artist Award, Israeli Ministry of Culture, Science and Sport

2020     Art Lane Fund supporting Israeli Art and Artists

2018      The Ilana Elovic Prize for Excellence in the Arts

Collections

Israel Museum collection

Tel Aviv Museum of Art collection

Collection of the Knesset of Israel (Israel’s parliament)

Private collections: Ari & Ann Rosenblatt, Thomas Rom, Oberrauch collection and more.