Comic relief: Yair Garbuz' 'I am Painters'

Carnival, circus, comedic.

 

These are the best words to describe the humorous – sometimes grotesque – style of painter, Yair Garbuz. His third solo exhibition at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art (his last being 23 years ago) will take place in the Marcus B. Mizne Gallery, Marc Rich and Gabrielle Rich Gallery, and the Main Building and is by no means any exception. Garbuz received the 2015 Rappaport Prize for an Established Israeli Artist, and as they say, 'good things come with age'; in 'I am Painters', the veteran artist's virtuosity and ease with the Hebrew language and painting styles alike are more solidified than ever.

 

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Curated by Ellen Ginton, 'I am Painters' showcases Garbuz' works from the past five years, narrowing in on the integral part of his artistic style: humor. In the current exhibition, he tackles this theme from two different directions: visual and linguistic. Garbuz disguises himself in other painters, imitating modern artists from the Western world such as the iconic Edward Hopper, Franz Kline, Mark Rothko, and Elizabeth Peyton. The brilliant artist manages to maintain integrity while referencing a diverse range of painting styles that span hundreds of years and thousands of kilometers. From Egyptian and Greek vases, to the Middle Ages, Russian avant-garde, abstract, surrealism and art on the periphery, Garbuz' 'I am Painters' forces the audience to delve deeper into the understanding of humor through imitation as a sort of satirical theatrical endeavor.

 

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Nov 30-May 6. Mon, Wed, Sat 10:00-18:00, Tue, Thu 10:00-21:00, Fri 10:00-14:00, Sun Closed. Marcus B. Mizne Gallery, Marc Rich and Gabrielle Rich Wing Main Building of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art (03-6077020/http://www.tamuseum.org.il)