Like a bird on a wire/ Like a drunk in a midnight choir/ I have tried in my way to be free – Leonard Cohen
The exhibition “Escape Room” took shape during the current war in the South. Sarit Mayer presents the war from a different point of view, via birds’ flying routes and the blood-red color of poppies and anemones growing in the region. The birds symbolizes hope and revival.
Mayer, a second-generation Holocaust survivor, works in her home, which in the course of time became her studio, where life and art intertwine. Art plays an important part in her life, and creating it is a means of processing her experiences and beliefs.
The exhibition projects the harsh reality of the Swords of Iron war. The impact of the battles caused Mayer profound sadness. To alleviate her mood, she went on an escape trip to the fishponds and took multiple photos of bird in motion.
A deceptive silence
The silence engulfing the area was deceptive. In the South, a war had been going on, whereas here was a serene and beautiful world with birds innocently looking for food through what seemed to be endless spaces. Upon returning to the turbulent reality, her thoughts flowed and were transformed onto the canvas, hence enabling the observer to connect to the peace and serenity of the birds’ movement and to escape with them into their world. The birds convey a double metaphor, representing freedom and the struggle for survival, whereas to Mayer, it is the search for emotional balance.
Mayer is inspired by Anton Biderman and Yossi Mark, two renowned artists who have been her mentors throughout her professional development.
“I mix the oil on the canvas to make it look soft and delicate, and I compose the idea while I’m at it. I use warm colors, which to me symbolize life full of energy, joy, and freshness. Every painting has several layers of color, rendering a deeper effect of shades. Each type of color has its own technique and different painting concept. What fascinates me about oil is the ability to break the painting apart and re-assemble it. The motion of color on the canvas creates an illusion.”
In addition to a spatula and brushes, Mayer uses her fingers to enable the observer to follow the magical path into the artist’s soul.■
The writer is curator of the exhibition of Sarit Mayer’s work, ‘Escape Room,’ on display at Global Art Gallery in Tel Aviv, from September 18 to October 26.
