Gideon Gechtman
Encyclopedia
Gideon Gechtman was an Israel
i artist
and sculptor. His art is most noted for holding a dialogue with death
, often in relation with his own biography.
, Egypt
. He moved to the British mandate of Palestine with his family in 1945. He studied at the Avni Institute of Art and Design
(1961-1962), Hammersmith College of Art
(1968-1971), the Ealing School of Art, and Tel Aviv University
(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
in Jerusalem (1972-1975) and the Art Teachers Training College of Beit Berl
(1971-2008).
In 1973 Gechtman had his first solo exhibition in the Yodfat Gallery in Tel Aviv
. 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
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
and the Jerusalem Post, as well as around his home in Rishon LeZion. 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.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
and sculptor. His art is most noted for holding a dialogue with death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
, often in relation with his own biography.
Biography
Gideon Gechtman was born in AlexandriaAlexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. He moved to the British mandate of Palestine with his family in 1945. He studied at the Avni Institute of Art and Design
Avni Institute of Art and Design
The Avni Institute of Art and Design is an Israeli art school located in Tel Aviv. The institute is known for teaching and employing many well known Israeli artists and designers....
(1961-1962), Hammersmith College of Art
Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College
Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College is a college of further education based across four campuses located in Acton, Ealing, Hammersmith and Southall districts of London, England. The college provides education for over 25,000 students, and it is a member of the 157 Group of high performing...
(1968-1971), the Ealing School of Art, and Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
(1975-1976).
After returning from London with his future wife singer/actress Bat-Sheva Zeisler
Bat-Sheva Zeisler
Bat-Sheva Zeisler is an Israeli vocalist, actress, and voice teacher. She sings in the soprano range.Zeisler graduated from the Tel Aviv University, where she studied drama and literature...
, 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 Art and Design
Bezalel Academy of Art and Design is Israel's national school of art, founded in 1906 by Boris Schatz. It is named for the Biblical figure Bezalel, son of Uri , who was appointed by Moses to oversee the design and construction of the Tabernacle ....
in Jerusalem (1972-1975) and the Art Teachers Training College of Beit Berl
Beit Berl
Beit Berl is a village and the largest academic college in Israel in number of students and the range of programs it offers. Located on the outskirts of Kfar Sava, it falls under the jurisdiction of Drom HaSharon Regional Council...
(1971-2008).
In 1973 Gechtman had his first solo exhibition in the Yodfat Gallery in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. 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
Open Heart Surgery
Open Heart Surgery was released on August 8, 2000 by rock band Virginwool. The band signed to Breaking/Atlantic Records after initially beginning signed to Universal Records. The album was produced and mixed by Brad Wood....
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
Haaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
and the Jerusalem Post, as well as around his home in Rishon LeZion. 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.
Prizes
- 1970 - Royal AcademyRoyal AcademyThe Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... - 1989 - Ministry of Education Prize for Completion of Project
- 1990 - HistadrutHistadrutHaHistadrut HaKlalit shel HaOvdim B'Eretz Yisrael , known as the Histadrut, is Israel's organization of trade unions. Established in December 1920 during the British Mandate for Palestine, it became one of the most powerful institutions of the State of Israel.-History:The Histadrut was founded in...
Prize - 1993 - Minister of Science and Arts Prize for Creations in the Realm of Plastic Arts
- 1995 - Tel Aviv Museum of ArtTel Aviv Museum of ArtThe Tel Aviv Museum of Art is an art museum in Tel Aviv, Israel. It was established in 1932 in a building that was the home of Tel Aviv's first mayor, Meir Dizengoff. The Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art opened in 1959. The museum moved to its current location on King Saul Avenue in...
Prize - 1997 - Israel Discount BankIsrael Discount BankIsrael Discount Bank Ltd. , I.D.B., is one of Israel's three largest banks, with 260 branches, and assets of 171 billion NIS .-History:...
Prize for an Israeli Artist, Israel MuseumIsrael MuseumThe Israel Museum, Jerusalem was founded in 1965 as Israel's national museum. It is situated on a hill in the Givat Ram neighborhood of Jerusalem, near the Bible Lands Museum, the Knesset, the Israeli Supreme Court, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
, Jerusalem - 1999 - George and Janet Geffin Prize for Excellence in Plastic Arts, America Israel Cultural FoundationAmerica Israel Cultural FoundationThe America Israel Cultural Foundation was established in 1939 to support the growth and development of Israel. Originally established as the American Fund for Palestinian Institutions, after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 the name was changed to the American Fund for Israeli...
- 2002 - HaifaHaifaHaifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
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 AvivTel AvivTel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
- 1984 - Givon Art Gallery, Tel Aviv
- 1985 - Mitot, Kibbutz Gallery, Tel Aviv
- 1988 - Preparation for Mausoleum No.1, Artists Studios, Jerusalem
- 1992 - Israel Echo, Bograshov Gallery, Tel Aviv
- 1996 - Chedva, Chelouche Gallery, Tel Aviv
- 1999 - Yotam, HerzliyaHerzliyaHerzliya is a city in the central coast of Israel, at the western part of the Tel Aviv District. It has a population of 87,000 residents. Named after Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, Herzliya covers an area of 26 km²...
Museum of Art - 2001 - Etude, Chelouche Gallery, Tel Aviv
- 2001 - Infinite Regress, Wiensowski & Harbord, BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
- 2003 - Chedva, Gideon and all the Rest, Artists House, Tel Aviv
- 2003 - Haifa Museum of Art, HaifaHaifaHaifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
- 2007 - Initial Concept, Petah TikvaPetah TikvaPetah Tikva known as Em HaMoshavot , is a city in the Center District of Israel, east of Tel Aviv.According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2009, the city's population stood at 209,600. The population density is approximately...
Museum of Art - 2007 - Dead Line, Beit Kanner Municipal Gallery, Rishon Lezion
- 2008 - Launching Apparatus, Chelouche Gallery, Tel Aviv
Museums and galleries
- Gideon Gechtman at Chelouche Gallery
- Gideon Gechtman at Haifa Museum of Art
- Gideon Gechtman at Petach Tikva Museum of Art
General art websites
- Gideon Gechtman at Artfacts.net
- Gideon Gechtman at Stock Artist