Art is a powerful medium to convey one’s ideas, emotions, and identity. In this article, we will explore how three Israeli artists, each with a different approach and background, answer three questions about their work and what inspires them.
Andi LaVine Arnovitz is an American-born artist who moved to Israel in 1999. She creates mixed-media artworks that explore themes such as feminism, Jewish identity, and social justice. Her works often incorporate traditional materials and techniques, such as paper, fabric, and embroidery, to create complex and layered narratives.
One of her recent projects is The Book of Plagues, a series of 10 large-scale collages that depict the biblical plagues in a modern context, such as climate change, pandemics, and terrorism. She says that she was inspired by the Passover story and the idea of collective responsibility. “I wanted to create a visual commentary on the state of the world and how we are all connected and affected by these global issues,” she says.
Arnovitz also uses her art as a form of activism and advocacy. For example, she created a series of wearable sculptures called The Jerusalem Garments, which are inspired by the religious and political tensions in the city. She says that she wanted to challenge the stereotypes and prejudices that divide people and create a dialogue through art. “I hope that my art can inspire people to think critically and compassionately about the world and themselves,” she says.
Erez Israeli: A Provocative and Humorous Critique of Israeli Society
Erez Israeli is a Tel Aviv-based artist who works with various media, such as painting, sculpture, installation, and video. He is known for his provocative and humorous artworks that critique the Israeli society and culture, especially its militarism, nationalism, and religion.
One of his most controversial works is The Last Supper, a large-scale painting that depicts a group of Israeli soldiers having a meal in a bunker, surrounded by weapons, flags, and religious symbols. He says that he wanted to question the role of the army in shaping the Israeli identity and values. “I wanted to show the absurdity and hypocrisy of the situation, where the army is both a source of pride and a source of violence,” he says.
Israeli also uses his art as a way of expressing his personal experiences and emotions. For example, he created a series of sculptures called The Wounded, which are based on his own injuries from a car accident. He says that he wanted to explore the fragility and vulnerability of the human body and mind. “I wanted to show the scars and wounds that we all carry, both physically and psychologically,” he says.
Sigalit Landau: A Poetic and Symbolic Connection to the Land and the Sea
Sigalit Landau is a Jerusalem-born artist who works with various media, such as sculpture, installation, photography, and video. She is known for her poetic and symbolic artworks that connect to the land and the sea, especially the Dead Sea, which she considers as a source of inspiration and healing.
One of her most famous works is Dead See, a video installation that shows her floating in the Dead Sea with a spiral of watermelons attached to her body. She says that she wanted to create a contrast between the natural and the artificial, the living and the dead, the sweet and the salty. “I wanted to create a visual metaphor for the cycle of life and death, and the balance between the elements,” she says.
Landau also uses her art as a way of exploring her cultural and historical roots. For example, she created a series of sculptures called Salt Bride, which are made of objects that she submerged in the Dead Sea for months, until they were covered with salt crystals. The objects include a replica of a traditional Jewish wedding dress, a violin, and a pair of shoes. She says that she wanted to create a link between the past and the present, and the personal and the collective. “I wanted to show the beauty and the tragedy of the history and the memory that are embedded in these objects,” she says.
