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In today’s world, we hear a lot about Israel’s politics, history, and religion. But the fact of the manner, is that there is so much more to the country—from food to music to regular day to day life. When we understand those aspects of Israel’s culture we can better understand the country as a whole. So I propose taking a step back from the politics, history, and religions of Israel, and take a closer look at those cultural aspects. And boy, is there a lot to talk about, including what Israeli artists are producing.

There dozens and dozens of Israeli artists who are producing amazing art, some of it prominent in Israel, some of it spreading around the world. Who are these Israeli artists?

 

They are Amit Shimoni ….

Amit Shimoni has created an art series that is now spreading around the world. He draws the portraits of famous world figures in hipster fashions—from Barak Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump to Gandhi, Nelson Mendel, and even Santa Claus!! These portraits are printed on coasters, coffee mugs, and post cards. People from around the world have been buying these products. Amit has become so popular that he was listed on Israel’s 30under30.

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Amit Shimoni coasters (Photo by Samantha Israel Tours).

They are the Eggplant Kid….

Well actually, we don’t really know who the Eggplant Kid is. But there are eggplants graffitied around the city of Tel Aviv and signed by the Eggplant Kid. There is graffiti everywhere in Tel Aviv, especially in the Florentine neighborhood. The graffiti reflects the values and issues prevalent in Tel Aviv at any given moment, making it very interesting to walk around the streets of Tel Aviv and explore the graffiti. In fact, the city’s street art has become a popular subject for walking tours around Tel Aviv.

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Eggplant Kid Graffiti in Tel Aviv. (Photo by Samantha Israel Tours).

They are Solomon Souza….

Solomon is a London born- Israeli who has totally changed the face of Jerusalem’s market, Shuk Mahane Yehuda. He has spray painted the portraits of world figures on the shutters of the stores that are open during the day. When the stores close at the end of the day, the market becomes a gallery of these colorful portraits. This has become an important part of the process of turning Mahane Yehuda into a market during the day and a night scene with pubs in the evenings.

Ever since, Souza has gained fame throughout the country. He has gone on to participate in other projects as well, leading to his role in changing the face of Israel’s art scene. Solomon Souza is currently Israel Innovation Fund’s Artist in Residence

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Ben Gurion Graffiti in Mahane Yehuda. (Photo by Samantha Israel Tours).

They are Liron Breier….

Liron Breier is a photographer, living in the central part of Israel. Some of her work focuses on and deals with women’s experience with sexual harassment. It brings an important subject in society to light, so that fellow Israelis can find a safe space to talk about that important subject.

In our day and age, the stories of sexual harassment against women are coming out more and more often. Having that safe space to tell and listen to these stories will determine how we can move forward. Breier is working to make that happen!

 

And they are Michal Rovner….

Michal Rovner is a video, photo, and cinema artist, who was born and raised in Tel Aviv. She began her career as early as 1990 with photography and made unique projects by distorting the photographs in order to make us look at the subject matter in a different way. One of her most well- known works is the site- specific video at the Yad Vashem Memorial Museum’s entrance. Called “Living Landscape,” the video shows a collage of pre-WWII footage of the daily lives of European Jews. Throughout her career, she has brought exhibitions around the world from Tel Aviv to Chicago, San Francisco, and New York, to Rome and London.

Michal has become such an important artist in Israel, she received the Tel Aviv Museum Award and an honorary doctorate from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.  She is quoted as saying “I present situations of conflict, tensions, fractures, vulnerability. […] I always begin with reality. I record it and subsequently, little by little, I extract the image of reality, which becomes more fuzzy, losing its own definition, and bringing therefore something else.”

 

In conclusion….

There are so many Israeli artists out there, all of them with so much talent and bringing something new to the table in the world of art. When we discover their creations, not only are we getting an opportunity to explore the world of art, creativity, and innovation, but we are making Israel more 3-Dimensional—we are making Israel come alive. Therefore, be on the lookout for the next big Israeli artist. Wonder around Israel’s artistic scene. Finally, go on an artistic adventure!

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Samantha is a private tour guide in Israel. Her passion is to bring Israel to you on a personal and interesting level. From guiding University groups to Birthright trips to private family tours, Samantha brings Israel to you!

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