Recommended: FACEing the city- a reminder to look

By SarahPeguine, May 7, 2012

Art by Yiftach Belsky, Elinor Carucci, Michal Cole-Ohana, Uri Gershuni on Beit Ariela

Since the opening of Tel Aviv’s Art Year large reproductions of art works have been hung on buildings throughout the city, creating an open-air gallery, so to speak. Curated by Sagi Refael the aim of the project is “to bring the general public closer, including those who don’t usually visit the different museums and galleries, to contemporary art by Israeli artists. In addition, since every piece was chosen for a specific building, it shines each one in a different light which brings out its presence in the public sphere.”These huge photos made me directly think about large advertising billboards that we are so used to see in our daily life. But what are they advertising? the artists? the art itself? the city? the buildings? the art year?By bringing these reproductions of art works closer to the general public, the art works themselves help transforming the public sphere. They make the public become more aware of its surroundings, help questioning the space which we are used to experience. The art works change, even if just a little bit, the urban landscape and hence allow us to explore its roles, its limitations, potentials and most importantly our relation to it.And isn’t that what’s art about? Make us think anew things we are so used to see and experience in order to change event if really slightly our world. Maybe- if we take that idea and direction of advertising- that’s what these reproductions are advertising, the art itself and its roles.
Here are a few photos of the project, all taken by the oh so talented Hadass Springut:

Ohad Matalon on the Tel Aviv Municipality building: