Throughout years of creativity, Gabi Benzano, a skilled Israeli veteran artist, has taken his line through different walks of classical scenery, sketches of heads, skulls and the female form. His walks passed a variety of artistic trends, leaving drawings ranging from the minimalistic and abstract to neo-expressionism, from the reserved and abrupt to the temperamental and aggressive, from struggle and suffering to refinement and flowing elegance. For the present exhibition, “Passion”, Benzano has chosen to concentrate on works that he is able to visualize even with his eyes closed and his hands bound; sketches arising from a perfect coordination between hand and eye.
In subject matter too, he follows his line as it leads him through his most beloved classical landscape: the female form. The desirable female leads Benzano forward from a carefully thought-out sketch to one that almost draws itself; from the frozen, two dimensional medium of a rectangular sheet of paper to a three dimensional wall exhibit; from a basic line lacking materiality, physicality and tangibility to the tactility of rusted iron, more commonly used in the construction industry; and yet further on to deep indentations etched into thick oils on canvas; to delicate brass wires portraying an image as fragile as an item of jewelry; to a drawing indifferent to the spectator’s ability to identify the depicted image; to a sketch encapsulating space, light and movement; to a drawing of conciliation, entertainment and enjoyment, of whose presence within the space it is impossible to be unaware.