Michal Zehavi's “Other Skin” in the Periscope Gallery

Haaretz Newspaper

By Arieh Berkovicz

January 3, 2006
Copyright 2006 Haaretz

Michal Zehavi is presently exhibiting layered bowls composed of burnt materials. The vessels are shaped in the form of human discards that retain evidence of the original identity, while, at the same time, create new shapes reminiscent of fragile organic fossilized components.

“The Other Skin” exhibit is a reflective continuation of the group of perforated vessels that Zehavi exhibited in Periscope in 2003. The tension created in the shape of the vessels by the pure formation and fragility of the substance and their sensuality is imbued with even more force in the three-dimensional shapes, which expose a dialogue between the outer forms and the inner forms through a rich texture of materials that imitates density, obtained by working with Sisyphean meticulousness. Alongside the aesthetic experience, the vessels elicit an association with ageing situations, a silicate casing which has completed its function and makes room for a new texture, nevertheless vaguely maintaining its original identity.

In this exhibition, Zehavi, an original artist in the domain of ceramics, exhibits a personal variegated language, rigidly maintaining high levels of technical qualities which bestow an added value upon the ceramic designs.

Periscope Gallery, Ben Yehuda 176, Tel Aviv. Open Monday-Thursday 17:00-20:00, Friday-Saturday 11:00-13:00. The exhibit will close on the 21st of this month.