Aharon Bezalel

Israeli Abstract Figures Art Brut Polychromed Bronze Sculpture Aharon Bezalel

Aharon Bezalel (Afghani-Israeli, 1925-2012) Family Grouping Hand signed in with initials in English Figures fit together like puzzle pieces in solid cast bronze with original patina. Aharon Bezalel (born Afghanistan 1926) Born in Herat, Afghanistan in 1926 and immigrated to Israel at an early age. His father, Reuven Bezalel, was a rabbi and kabbalist. As a youth Aharon studied gold and silver casting as well as applied arts and worked in these fields as a silversmith and judaica craftsman, and was a student of the sculptor Zev Ben-Zvi at the Bezalel Academy for Art & Design where he also studied with Isidor Ascheim and Mordecai Ardon. There he absorbed the basic concepts of classic and modernist art and interpreted, according to them, ideas based on ancient Hebrew sources. He also studied miniature carving with the artists Martin and Helga Rost applying himself at their workshop. Aharon Bezalel worked and resided in Jerusalem, he taught art for many years. His sculptures - works of wood, bronze, aluminum, Plexiglas - were shown at his studio in Ein Kerem. “I saw myself as part of this region. I wanted to find the contact between my art and my surroundings. Those were the first years of Jean Piro’s excavations at the Beer-Sheba mound. They found there, for example, the Canaanite figurines that I especially liked and that were an element that connected me with the past and with this place.” “…a seed and sperm or male and female. These continue life. The singular, the individual alone, cannot exist; I learned this from my father who dabbled with the Kabbalah.” (Aharon Bezalel, excerpt from an interview with David Gerstein) “The singular in Aharon Bezalel’s work is always potentially a couple if not a threesome, the one is also the many: when the individual is revealed within the group he will always seek a huddling, a clinging together. The principle of modular construction is required by this perception of unity and multiplicity, as modular construction in his work is an act of conception or defense. His work bears a similarity to Berrocal as well as affinities to Henry Moore, Lynne Chadwick and Kenneth Armitage. Two poles of unity, potentially alone, exist in A. Bezalel’s world: From a formal, sculptural sense these are the sphere and pillar, metaphorically these are the female in the final stages of pregnancy and the solitary male individual. Sphere-seed-woman; Pillar-strand-man. The disproportional, small heads in A. Bezalel figures leave humankind in it’s primal physical capacity. The woman as a pregnancy or hips, the man as an aggressive or defensive force, the elongated chest serves as a phallus and weapon simultaneously. (Gideon Ofrat) EIN HAROD About the Museum's Holdings: Israeli art is represented by the works of Reuven Rubin, Zaritzky, Nahum Gutman...

From a limited edition. an abstract elongated art deco form of a mother with child. signed on bottom of wooden base and etched into bronze. Victor Halvani no doubt had an enchanted childhood. A warm loving Jewish family. His father a judge, his mother, descendent from a rabbinic family, was a great storyteller who transformed the heroes of the Bible into her child’s best friends. A small village at the base of the pyramids of Giza, school trips to the Valley of the Kings in Aswan. Ancient Egyptian art looking at the dreamy child from every corner. Given the chance to look back, it becomes clear that Victor’s lifelong dream – to become an artist, had it’s beginnings right there – in the child dreaming at the Nile. Victor Halvany was born in 1930 to Bella and Yitzchak (OBM). Soaked in that enchanted childhood atmosphere, Victor found himself spending hours and days in the Cairo museum of art, looking at the exhibits and drawing them with intensity and enthusiasm. His inspiration filled drawings caught the eye of his teachers and with there encouragement he entered a national competition in which he won first place. This lead to him winning a full scholarship at the art faculty in Zamalek and at the Cairo University. Full of hopes and dreams he began his studies, only to be interrupted after one year. The Israeli war of independence began and subsequently the pogroms, and the urgent need of Egyptian Jews to emigrate, going first to France and than to Israel. Victor’s first years in Israel were years of struggle for survival, but simultaneously years of activity and progress. In 1950, while serving in the army, Victor met Margalit, the women at his side, mother of his children and the most present character in his career of activity and art. With Margalit’s encouragement and support he not only raised a family, fathering two boys and a girl, but also fulfilled his dream and was fortunate to have a full and inspiring career- as a person, artist, and teacher. Today, in his advanced age, Victor continues his daily activities: creates, plans, exhibits, and as always – open-minded, curious, learning, getting updated. 1953 – Received scholarship and year of study at Bezalel School of art and design in Jerusalem. 1956 – Finished education studies and received BA in education. Tel Aviv art teachers college. 1969 – Scholarship to study abroad for a year at Hammersmith College of art & building in London, graduating cum laude. 1970 – Received MA in art education and sculpture. 2015 – Participation in the sculpture exhibit at the Mamilla mall promenade in Jerusalem. Sculptures exhibited: “David with harp”, “Mother playing with child”, “Yuval father of harp players” 2014 – Participation in sculpture exhibit at the Mamilla Mall Promenade in Jerusalem, sculptures exhibited: “Ruth and Naomi” “David playing harp”, “Girl with gazelle” 2013 – Ein Hod, Yemini sculpture garden, at main entrance to artist’s colony, sculpture exhibited “David playing the harp”. 2012 – Opening of “Art exhibit- Victor Halvani”. At the Halvani residence in Ein Hod, exhibits large collection of sculptures and prints. Visits by appointment. 2011 – Safed, “The Shofar” art project, exhibited at “Safed liberation square”, at main entrance to the city, in the presence of the mayor and representatives of U.S. donors. 2010 – Safed, “The Spies” art project placed, and square named Halvani, at southern entrance to the city of Safed, in presence of the Mayor, Ilan Shochet, and representatives of U.S. donors. 2001 – Participation in international exhibit in San Francisco, U.S. 2001 – Katzrin, Ramat Hagolan, Exhibit of sculptures “Mother playing with child”, “Hope for peace”, and “David with slingshot”, around the city. 2000 – New York, U.S. – International millennium art expo – exhibited “The Hope”. 1999 – Safed, completion of phase 2 of Victor Halvani sculpture garden in Oranim neighborhood. 1998 – Bennington, U.S. – Solo exhibit with collection of bronze sculptures at Bennington art center. 1997 – Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S. – Placement of sculpture “David playing the harp” at the entrance to Seretean art center at the University of Oklahoma. 1996 – Miami, Florida, U.S., Center for international exhibits – solo exhibit, selection of bronze sculptures. 1995 – West Bloomfield, Michigan, U.S. – Placement of sculpture “David playing harp” at the Reform Jewish Cultural Center park. 1995 – Boston, U.S. – placement of sculpture “David playing harp” at Stanley & Barbara Young...

Aharon Bezalel Cast Bronze, modernist, brutalist. c 1969, Wonderful form and artistry.

This surrealist bronze is a figure of a male and female intertwined and stands at 24" tall. The bronze has a beautiful brown and green patina. The sculpture is made in two pieces, as...