Brand New Middle East, 2024
The series consists of large scale oil paintings, depicting increasingly fantastical iterations of a landscape dominated by the Sabra plant. Platek was drawn to the Sabra in particular because of its weighty cultural significance. Although not indigenous to Israel (originating from Mexico, it came to the Middle Eastern Basin in the 16th century), it has come to embody notions of locality, belonging and resilience; symbolizing both Palestinian resistance, as well as the figure of the Israeli native.
In the works, the seemingly unshakable plant is depicted in the very moment of its greatest strife. Over the past years the local Sabra population has been under a merciless attack from the aphid - an invasive mite species who has no local predators. Therefore, this mightily sturdy plant is now on what seems to be its last breath. In the paintings this comes through as mutated plant-scapes existing in an phantasmagoria-scape, no longer in the here and now, they have crossed the threshold.
These works were created following a large-scale walking tour Platek conducted around Israel. During this he went in search of territories which once held thriving Palestinian communities that now house mostly thick, untamed vegetation. Hence, as a body of work, this series is deeply rooted in his exploration of the Israeli past, present and future - intended at raising in depth questions about belonging, identity and being in this war torn geography.
Platek methodology of wandering was thus doubled. Walking first through the Israeli landscape, he then also let himself wander in the studio. Discovering a new through the paintbrush and the imagination the creation of a phantasmagorical and imaginary, painterly scape. This opened up possibilities for thinking about futurity as both here and now and also on the horizon.
The exhibition 'Brand New Middle East' was presented at Maya Gallery from December 2024 to January 2025.
Curator: Hadassah Cohen.
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