CREATING "HOLY LAND"
Due to recent events unfolding in my Homeland, I felt an urge as an artist to express my emotions.
This project has been a roller coaster for me since I committed to it, but the dedication was undeniably present, and I couldn't quit, despite my desire to do so.
When I first started to create “Holy Land” I was traumatized by the conflict and I wanted to capture a moment in time. As the conflict escalated in real-time, my painting took on a rough and dark quality. At one point, I paused to observe and reflect on the progress.
Suddenly I didn’t feel any specific emotion about my painting, rather, I sensed an overwhelming roughness and violence that seemed contradictory, as it did not align with what Israel and its people stand for. To me Israel is a place of joy, diversity and optimism. My Israel is a blue sky, happiness, God, ancient times and a Holy Land.
(previous versions of "Holy Land")
Feeling that there was already too much hatred in the world, I didn't want to contribute to the darkness or add to the global madness and war fervor. Therefore, I made a conscious decision to transform my painting into something softer, illustrating the Israel I know and remember.
Ilona Avart