Walking into the Visual Arts Gallery at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi to view the Israeli Pop Art exhibition is like entering an extremely colourful dream.
Artists in Israel have traditionally produced classical landscapes, sceneries and figurative works, but over the past decade there has been a change in style. Artists have started producing cutting-edge works that use a vivid palette. Working with materials not used in the past, their works have developed a language of their own and are being called Israeli Pop Art.
Motti Abramovitz, the director of Israel-based Bruno Art Group who has curated the show, says: “Unlike in India, home decor in Israel is extremely modern, simple and rather cold — it mostly comprises white walls and grey floors. People wanted to add a splash of vibrancy in their homes and that is how artists started producing works using a lot of colour to meet the demand.”
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Inaugurated by Ambassador of Israel Daniel Carmon, the show features six Israeli pop artists who are established international names — Yaacov Agam, David Gerstein, Calman Shemi, Dganit Blechner, Yuval Mahler and Raphael Abecassis.
Considered a pioneer in the field of kinetic art movement, Yaacov Agam’s pieces play with colour, form, time and movement to create four-dimensional images called an ‘agamograph’. Several different images are hidden in the painting and the images change as one moves.
Dganit Blechner uses icons from movies or collages from cities printed digitally, over which she adds her magic to produce stunning and cheerful works that is a tribute to them.
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Calman Shemi has developed a unique style to make colours look brighter as he paints on aluminium using car paint. He has even painted a collage on Delhi using car paint.
Yuval Mahler’s works are fun fibreglass sculptures that are comical and satirical.
Raphael Abecassis’s works contain verses from the Bible and Psalms of David. He uses gouache paint on treated cardboard to create his works and a very thin brush that enables him to create intricate designs. He also incorporates decoupage in his works.
David Gerstein creates three-layered sculptures using a laser. His works create a visual spectacle that is a treat for any viewer and brighten up a room by their overwhelming presence. The works will be on display till November 23.