Matthias Weischer – I think the way in which he uses objects to represent certain times, places, and cultures, and his ability to create interesting connections and examine our culture, are genius. I love his playfulness, his use of collage, and his courage to make unpredictable connections – that some may find a bit silly. I try to take on some of these qualities.
My paintings refer to a wide range of issues – human-nature power relations, nostalgia, the sublime, melancholy of beauty, life and death. The topics come from a variety of sources and are juxtaposed in both an arbitrary and artificial manner. I see painting as an experiment, and I am always led by it, no matter how much I plan. I am intrigued by the image of the body and the diverse emotions and associations it can provoke. The body interests me because it refers to the image of the crucified Christ, an image so familiar in our culture, just like many other images from classical European art that affected our visual culture. When it comes to the image of Jesus, its fragility and vulnerability intrigue me; it displays a different kind of masculinity.
Itay Matan, 26, painter. Lives in Tel Aviv.
I am originally from Jerusalem, where I studied at Bezalel, and I currently live in Tel Aviv. I am a painter that processes imagery from different sources. I paint with oils and acrylics on canvas and wood. There are many advantages to working on wood – you can create nuances with paint that would have been difficult to make otherwise.
The morning after my graduation show at Bezalel closed, I returned to painting. I was planning to take some time off, but I woke up and felt this void. I realized it's a pattern in my life – once I finish something, I must begin working on the next thing. I have this urge to keep painting; it's part of my routine. At the moment, my studio is quite empty after I sold most of my works at Freshpaint Art Fair. On the one hand, it's a success, and an empty studio symbolizes a new beginning. On the other, I feel very insecure without my artworks on the walls – who am I without them?
