Sabra 2022
This series of works was created following a large-scale walking tour conducted by the artist around Israel. During this he went in search of territories which once held thriving Palestinian communities. Everywhere he went, Platek encountered the Sabra and other common local plants, marking the location of the now demolished Palestinian villages.
The Sabra in particular, holds a weighty significance in both Israeli and Palestinian culture and history. And although it is not an indigenous plant (it originates from Mexico, from which it came to the Middle Eastern Basin around 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.
During his excursions, Platek would construct ad-hoc painting easels from found and discarded materials. Mostly he used large wooden construction platforms used to cover the openings of abandoned water wells - borrowing these for the duration of the painting. Working in ink, with dry and old bristly brushes, Platek used textural strokes to depict the thick vegetation, creating a dense yet barren visual scenery.
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