Gideon Gechtman (1942 – November 27, 2008) was an Israeli
artist
An artist is a person engaged in an activity related to creating art, practicing the arts, or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse refers to a practitioner in the visual arts only. However, th ...
and
sculptor
Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...
. His art is most noted for holding a dialogue with
death
Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...
, often in relation with his own biography.
Biography
Gideon Gechtman was born in
Alexandria
Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandria ...
,
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
. He moved to the
British mandate of Palestine British Mandate of Palestine or Palestine Mandate most often refers to:
* Mandate for Palestine: a League of Nations mandate under which the British controlled an area which included Mandatory Palestine and the Emirate of Transjordan.
* Mandatory P ...
with his family in 1945. He studied at the
Avni Institute of Art and Design
Avni Institute of Art and Design is an Israeli art school located in Tel Aviv. History
The Studia school (later Avni Institute) was established in 1936 by a group of Jewish artists. Among the founders was Aharon Avni, who became the school's fir ...
(1961–1962),
Hammersmith College of Art (1968–1971), the
Ealing School of Art
Ealing Art College (or Ealing Technical College & School of Art) was a further education institution on St Mary's Road, Ealing, London, England. The site today is the Ealing campus of University of West London.
History
In the early 1960s the Sch ...
, and
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University (TAU) ( he, אוּנִיבֶרְסִיטַת תֵּל אָבִיב, ''Universitat Tel Aviv'') is a public research university in Tel Aviv, Israel. With over 30,000 students, it is the largest university in the country. Locate ...
(1975–1976).
After returning from London with his future wife singer/actress
Bat-Sheva Zeisler, he created minimalistic art that was typical for that period. These works were described to "didactically demonstrate structural and figurative change in material and appearance." Gechtman taught at the
Bezalel Academy of Art and Design
Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design ( he, בצלאל, אקדמיה לאמנות ועיצוב) is a public college of design and art located in Jerusalem. Established in 1906 by Jewish painter and sculptor Boris Schatz, Bezalel is Israel's oldest ...
in
Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
(1972–1975) and the
Art Teachers Training College of
Beit Berl Academic College (1971–2008).
In 1973 Gechtman had his first solo exhibition in the Yodfat Gallery in
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the G ...
. The exhibition, named "Exposure", signified Gechtman's increasing interest in the connection between art and the biographic dimension. On the walls of the gallery were enlarged photographs of the body shaving process before the
open heart surgery
Cardiac surgery, or cardiovascular surgery, is surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. It is often used to treat complications of ischemic heart disease (for example, with coronary artery bypass grafting); to corr ...
that Gechtman underwent in 1973. Also in this exhibition were real and fabricated documents regarding Gechtman's medical condition. At the closure of the exhibition Gechtman put up obituaries for himself in Israeli dailies ''
Haaretz
''Haaretz'' ( , originally ''Ḥadshot Haaretz'' – , ) is an Israeli newspaper. It was founded in 1918, making it the longest running newspaper currently in print in Israel, and is now published in both Hebrew and English in the Berliner f ...
'' and the ''
Jerusalem Post
''The Jerusalem Post'' is a broadsheet newspaper based in Jerusalem, founded in 1932 during the British Mandate of Palestine by Gershon Agron as ''The Palestine Post''. In 1950, it changed its name to ''The Jerusalem Post''. In 2004, the paper w ...
'', as well as around his home in
Rishon LeZion
Rishon LeZion ( he, רִאשׁוֹן לְצִיּוֹן , ''lit.'' First to Zion, Arabic: راشون لتسيون) is a city in Israel, located along the central Israeli coastal plain south of Tel Aviv. It is part of the Gush Dan metropolitan ar ...
. Gechtman told later about the reactions: "Teachers from Bezalel said to me: 'Have you gone mad? You frightened everyone.'" The obituaries were a returning element in Gechtman's art for years to come.
In 1999, he exhibited a remodelled hospital environment under the name Yotam, named after his son who had died.
Gideon Gechtman died of heart failure on November 27, 2008.
Artist Gideon Gechtman passed away
''Maariv
''Maariv'' or ''Maʿariv'' (, ), also known as ''Arvit'' (, ), is a Jewish prayer service held in the evening or night. It consists primarily of the evening ''Shema'' and '' Amidah''.
The service will often begin with two verses from Psalms, ...
'' 2008-11-28. Accessed 2008-11-28.
Gallery
File:Gideon Gechtman hasifa 005.jpg, Exposure, 1973
Installation view, Ydfat Fallery, Tel Aviv
File:Gideon Gechtman brushes.jpg, Brushes (Bat-Sheva, Gideon and Yotam Gechtman), 1974
human hair, wood, copper plaques, glass
File:Gideon Gechtman modaat evel 002.jpg, Obituary Notices, 1975
Bulletin board in Rishon LeZion
File:Gideon Gechtman cart 1984.jpg, Cart, 1982-1984
wood, formica, iron, rubber, brass. base painting in superlac on plywood
File:Gideon Gechtman at Neomi givon 1984 001.jpg, Obituaries, 1984
Installation view, Neomi Givon Gallery, Tel Aviv
Image:Obituary Notice (white), 1984, superlac on plywood, 79.5X103.5 cm.jpg, Obituary Notice, 1984
superlac on plywood, 79.5x103.5 cm.
File:Gideon Gechtman Hakibuz 1985 2.jpg, Mitot, 1985
Installation view, Kibbutz Gallery, Tel Aviv
File:Gideon Gechtman Preparation for Mausoleum No.jpg, Preparation for Mausoleum No.1, 1988
Installation view, Artists Studios Workshops, Jerusalem
File:Gideon Gechtman vase 1992 3.JPG, Vase, 1992
Fiberglass and Paint
Ibn Gabirol Street, Tel Aviv
File:Gideon Gechtman Echo 1992.jpg, Echo, 1995
Mix Media
File:Gideon Gechtman hedva 1996.jpg, Chedva, 1995
Installation view, Chelouche Gallery, Tel Aviv
File:Gideon Gechtman Yotma 004.jpg, Yotam, 1999
Installation view, Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art
Image:B08_0165.jpg, Peacock, 1999
Israel Museum
The Israel Museum ( he, מוזיאון ישראל, ''Muze'on Yisrael'') is an art and archaeological museum in Jerusalem. It was established in 1965 as Israel's largest and foremost cultural institution, and one of the world’s leading encyclopa ...
Collection
File:13 Obituary Notice, 2006, neon light on formica-coated plywood, silkscreen (blue).JPG, Neon obituary notice, 2006
File:Gideon Gechtman obituary orange.jpg, Orange obituary notice
File:Launching Apparatus by Gideon Gechtman2.jpg, Launching Apparatus, 2008
Installation view, Chelouche Gallery, Tel Aviv
Education
* 1961-62 Avni Institute, Tel Aviv
* 1962-63 Ealing School of Art, London
* 1968-70 Hammersmith College of Art, London
* 1975-76 Tel Aviv University, philosophy and art history
Prizes
* 1970 – Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...
, London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
* 1989 – Ministry of Education Prize for Completion of Project
* 1990 – Histadrut
Histadrut, or the General Organization of Workers in Israel, originally ( he, ההסתדרות הכללית של העובדים בארץ ישראל, ''HaHistadrut HaKlalit shel HaOvdim B'Eretz Yisrael''), is Israel's national trade union center ...
Prize
* 1993 – Minister of Science and Arts Prize for Creations in the Realm of Plastic Arts
* 1995 – Tel Aviv Museum of Art
Tel Aviv Museum of Art ( he, מוזיאון תל אביב לאמנות ''Muzeon Tel Aviv Leomanut'') is an art museum in Tel Aviv, Israel. The museum is dedicated to the preservation and display of modern and contemporary art from Israel and aroun ...
Prize
* 1997 – Israel Discount Bank
Israel Discount Bank, Ltd. is a retail bank, commercial bank, private bank and financial services company headquartered in Tel Aviv with 112 branches throughout Israel.
Discount Bank is a public company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange und ...
Prize for an Israeli Artist, Israel Museum
The Israel Museum ( he, מוזיאון ישראל, ''Muze'on Yisrael'') is an art and archaeological museum in Jerusalem. It was established in 1965 as Israel's largest and foremost cultural institution, and one of the world’s leading encyclopa ...
, Jerusalem
* 1999 – George and Janet Geffin Prize for Excellence in Plastic Arts, America Israel Cultural Foundation
The America-Israel Cultural Foundation (AICF) is a non-profit American foundation that supports cultural projects in Israel.
History
The America-Israel Cultural Foundation was established in 1939 to support the growth and development of a Jewish ...
* 2002 – Haifa
Haifa ( he, חֵיפָה ' ; ar, حَيْفَا ') is the third-largest city in Israel—after Jerusalem and Tel Aviv—with a population of in . The city of Haifa forms part of the Haifa metropolitan area, the third-most populous metropol ...
Museum Award for Art for distinguished achievement in contemporary creative arts
* 2006 – Ministry of culture prize for his life's work.
Solo exhibitions
* 1973 – ''Exposure'', Yodfat Gallery, Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the G ...
* 1984 – Givon Art Gallery The Givon Art Gallery is a contemporary art gallery in Tel Aviv, Israel.
The Gallery was founded in 1974 by Sam Givon on Gordon Street in Tel Aviv. In 1979 his daughter, Naomi (Noemi) opened the Givon Contemporary Art Gallery. Since the founder's ...
, Tel Aviv
* 1985 – ''Mitot'', Kibbutz Gallery, Tel Aviv
* 1988 – ''Preparation for Mausoleum No.1'', Artists Studios, Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
* 1992 – ''Israel Echo'', Bograshov Gallery, Tel Aviv
* 1996 – ''Chedva'', Chelouche Gallery, Tel Aviv
* 1999 – ''Yotam'', Herzliya
Herzliya ( ; he, הֶרְצְלִיָּה ; ar, هرتسليا, Hirtsiliyā) is an affluent city in the central coast of Israel, at the northern part of the Tel Aviv District, known for its robust start-up and entrepreneurial culture. In it h ...
Museum of Art
* 2001 – ''Etude'', Chelouche Gallery, Tel Aviv
* 2001 – ''Infinite Regress'', Wiensowski & Harbord, Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
* 2003 – ''Chedva, Gideon and all the Rest'', Artists House, Tel Aviv
* 2003 – Haifa Museum of Art, Haifa
Haifa ( he, חֵיפָה ' ; ar, حَيْفَا ') is the third-largest city in Israel—after Jerusalem and Tel Aviv—with a population of in . The city of Haifa forms part of the Haifa metropolitan area, the third-most populous metropol ...
* 2007 – ''Initial Concept'', Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva ( he, פֶּתַח תִּקְוָה, , ), also known as ''Em HaMoshavot'' (), is a city in the Central District (Israel), Central District of Israel, east of Tel Aviv. It was founded in 1878, mainly by Haredi Judaism, Haredi Jews of ...
Museum of Art
* 2007 – ''Dead Line'', Beit Kanner Municipal Gallery, Rishon Lezion
Rishon LeZion ( he, רִאשׁוֹן לְצִיּוֹן , ''lit.'' First to Zion, Arabic: راشون لتسيون) is a city in Israel, located along the central Israeli coastal plain south of Tel Aviv. It is part of the Gush Dan metropolitan ar ...
* 2008 – ''Launching Apparatus'', Chelouche Gallery, Tel Aviv
* 2012 – ''Butterflies & Pyramids'', Chelouche Gallery, Tel Aviv
* 2013 –
Gideon Gechtman, 1942–2008
', Israel Museum
The Israel Museum ( he, מוזיאון ישראל, ''Muze'on Yisrael'') is an art and archaeological museum in Jerusalem. It was established in 1965 as Israel's largest and foremost cultural institution, and one of the world’s leading encyclopa ...
, Jerusalem
References
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External links
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*
*
Museums and galleries
Gideon Gechtman
at Chelouche Gallery
*
Gideon Gechtman
at Petach Tikva Museum of Art
General art websites
Gideon Gechtman
at Artfacts.net
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gechtman, Gideon
1942 births
2008 deaths
Egyptian emigrants to Israel
Egyptian Jews
Israeli Jews
Israeli photographers
Jews in Mandatory Palestine
People from Alexandria
People from Rishon LeZion
20th-century Israeli sculptors
20th-century Israeli painters
21st-century Israeli sculptors
21st-century Israeli painters
Academic staff of Beit Berl College