one from 2009 the other from 2011
check them out here
https://issuu.com/yifatgat
Counterpoint / A dialogue between art and architecture
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between few musical lines which are harmonically interdependent yet independent.
The term originates from the Latin punctus contra punctum meaning "note against note".
Above is an Extract from the The Well-Tempered Clavier by Bach, my favorite piece of all time. I am not especially good at piano playing but I play enough to be able to ‘steal’ concepts from Bach.
In situ work to me is counterpoint work.
The reality of a place is a musical line that exists already
My work is to add a second line, harmonically interdependent yet independent.
When I come to work in a space I take the time to study it, be there, imagine the different scenarios possible and find the main motives I want to echo.
This way of work offers another perspective on daily life. A variation that can be traced back to the building. Like a playful elegant riddle. This came from this, where did this come from?
The idea is to create an ‘organic surprise’. On one hand the presentation is authentic and coherent with the site. On the other hand it’s a complete surprise. It reads familiar and new at the same time. Harmonically. interdependent yet independent.
I look to seduce the wondering eye of the spectator into an investigation of the work and its environment. Elegantly, playfully. Looking at the work, the spectator learns something about the building itself, its creator. It's a ping pong of perspectives. A dialogue between art and architecture.
The infinity swirl - Update
The swirl motive started as a window performance in 2011. I apply Marble dust to a large window or mirror and draw with my finger into it. Since, I Performed the swirl in various occasions including brooklyn, Marseille and London.
Now it is taking all my attention and becoming A series of its own. Here are some pics from this week:
Marble dust on window Manifesta , The infinite village, Espace Jouenne, Marseille
curated by Francisca Viudes, Tilman and cora von zezschwitz.
Picture by @JuilaGatPhotography
Prints Made after the swirl drawings
here in my print shop in five different colours and four different sizes
New swirl on paper. coming up soon
Thank you for watching
and please take care
Love,
Yifat
My future studio
All my life I been dreaming about a house that has a studio in the heart of it.
Like julian schnabel or Agnes Martin
not the room in the back, nor a space from the city, all which are perfectly fine but A studio space that has living spaces around it is my real goal
Now that I am 50, happily unmarried and with half my kids out of the nest i feel its time.
And so, embarking on a new life chapter I decided to sell my house.
This is going to be a crazy ride factoring in all the before, during and after, of a big change
but Im looking forward to it.
Im seeing a large loft in the country side as my goal and already started looking around
To this end I want to share with you a short description that I made of my village, the waterfront location and the house itself.
I know it is an unusual request but it is for a good cause.
The new owner will also get his pick of works from my studio, I think its only appropriate, no?
Please share this with anyone you think may be interested. The reward is 2%.
Feel free to write to me if you have any other question
Thank you!
An olive branch
As a kid, I remember learning that an olive brach was a sign of peace.
that inspired my eight years old costume, dressing up as a peace angel for a carnaval.
White ghosty sheet with olive branch crown and peace songs in my heart.
I loved that costume.
Fast forward 30 years I realised those olive trees from my crown, belonged to people who had no right to take care of them. The peace song became sad as Rabin was assassinated. and I was getting ready to leave my country. olive branches became the symbol for anonymous Palestinian villages.
Where does one go?
Wherever olive trees grows… like a crumb trail, they suddenly were the symbol to my Mediterranean identity.
13 years later we still live at the same house in Provence.
Olive oil merchants house. olive oils here are treated like whine.
they hold olive oil tastings rituals, competition and prizes.
Now olives are a lifestyle symbol
Authentic. Tradition. Simplicity. Local. Natural.
The mantra that got me through the first lockdown
“Local, personal, natural”
I kept going back to this three words
As the world we knew as normal is questioned to the core
I have a need to say whats basic
whats simple
“Start were you are” Pema chodron says
so I did
This series was my one work a day and you can get a glimpse at most of these daily work here as an open edition
I also posted the 9 abstract here as a download
but I love printing
nothing compete with holding the paper in my hand
guessing how many grams this paper is and which Italian manufacture its from
250 gr, from Milan? I ask Fabrice my printer from Imprimerie Vallière
and he says of course. what else ?
checking the black shining in the sun reflection
making sure all my details, textures and imperfections are in place
Some of this scenes just happened
as I was walking back and forth in front of my house during the lock down this swans were following me
they really did
unlike the ducks that couldn’t care less these actually spotted me and joined my walk
I couldn’t help but stopping to draw them.
Above is a detail of one of the works
These are studio works that turned digital than printed on paper
This is one of my favorite things to do actually
It takes many stages but I love that
letting my work take form than separating the colours into different layers adding textures, imperfections and other form of bringing meaning into a stain, im in love with.
Over all I printed ten and they are 22x33 cm
this size stayed with me from our first printing attempt with fabrice
we wanted to use a vintage press machine for the prints
but couldnt get all the technical aspects to work
I ended up collecting the size, the colour seperations, and other forms of vintage press preparations into a digital process.
Considering homeschooling your children ? welcome
More than 20 years into homeschooling my five kids It feels natural now. But it wasn't always like that. I had fears, I had questions, I had doubts. For years I went to homeschool meetings in my area and far from our area, to find other families, other mom's, that unschool.
I visited groups in North of Israel , Aix-en-Provence, LA, Sydney, and I created groups my self both in TLV and at home. These groups are what makes homeschooling possible. and the good news is that they are everywhere. You are never alone when you are homeschooling or unschooling. Your kids are never alone. When you travel or move there's always a group around the corner. It is always locally organised, but it is a global network. Some places hold sports day or get group discounts. There are national week long meetings as well. digging deeper you will find every walks of life in the mix. So in short, if you choose to take your kids out, welcome!
Friday Note #swallow
Covid turned my focus to local, natural, personal themes. I found myself in a creative crossroad. Painter, online entrepreneur, mother, and lots of time on my hands. I wanted to create a collection of homemade images. I created a printshop that speaks of my experience as a homemaker in Saint-Chamas en Provence.
I hope you are well, and that we can all find a way to heal together…
“Don’t judge a book by its cover".
I think I failed that one. I really admire the lines of this classic jar.
The stranger the news gets, the more I turn to mother earth and father sky for common sense.
I look up as I walk Ringo the dog behind the wind surf base. What do you make of it all?
A couple of swallows on their way to Africa swirl up, down and sideways, playing catch.
This too shall pass...
As a kid, drying wild flowers was one of my main activities. Now, my kid does it. Our streets are filled with flowers. The city planted seeds everywhere and the flowers surprised everyone. It is impressive.
Going for a walk gave insight, and check this out now
Yesterday I went for a walk in the beach next to my house, we have a crowded vegetation growing very close to the water. And because it is Provence there is this clear golden magical light, especially in spring time.
At some point the magical light shined through the bushes showing a path between them, like in a romantic set up, flowers on the sides, trees reclining over, the water in the horizon. Wow, i was impressed. As I came closer and started to walk the path I realised that after 10 meters it was blocked with bamboo and other plants I wish I could name. but you get the picture.
It hit me, wow, no one walked here for so long (because of covid) the path is gone. so simple. If you walk a path it exist, if you stop taking it, its gone. That simple example gave me permission to build up the official site for the new path I’m taking : A print shop of photo based digital drawings.
Narrative. In a global fight over the narrative raging in the world right now I wanted to walk the path of the things I hold dear. As my lifestyle, as a mother, as a home maker. as a human being, as what I wish for my children’s children to have available in their world.
Looking at what other humans are doing right now in the world with science, technology and politics, Im going local, personal and natural. That is how I react to what others are doing. I focus on what I do. It helps.
So I warn you, flowers, kids, boats and other magical set ups is what im in for right now. I know its a change, but life changes all the time and change is banana, we established that before.
Click the picture to see this new body of work Im working on.
It is available as prints here
https://gatyifat.visualsociety.com/
I hope you guys are well.
I just wanted to say I love this space here, I love that you write back, I love the direct human contact. This is becoming my favourite exhibition space…
Take care
Yifat
