Gideon Gechtman

Gideon Gechtman (1942 – November 27, 2008) was an Israeli artist and sculptor. His art is most noted for holding a dialogue with death, often in relation with his own biography.

Gideon Gechtman
Born1942
DiedNovember 27, 2008
NationalityIsraeli
Known forsculpture
MovementIsraeli art

Biography

Gideon Gechtman was born in Alexandria, 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."[1] Gechtman taught at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem (1972–1975) and the Art Teachers Training College of Beit Berl Academic College (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.'"[2] 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.[3]

  • Exposure, 1973
    Installation view, Ydfat Fallery, Tel Aviv
  • Brushes (Bat-Sheva, Gideon and Yotam Gechtman), 1974
    human hair, wood, copper plaques, glass
  • Obituary Notices, 1975
    Bulletin board in Rishon LeZion
  • Cart, 1982-1984
    wood, formica, iron, rubber, brass. base painting in superlac on plywood
  • Obituaries, 1984
    Installation view, Neomi Givon Gallery, Tel Aviv
  • Obituary Notice, 1984
    superlac on plywood, 79.5x103.5 cm.
  • Mitot, 1985
    Installation view, Kibbutz Gallery, Tel Aviv
  • Preparation for Mausoleum No.1, 1988
    Installation view, Artists Studios Workshops, Jerusalem
  • Vase, 1992
    Fiberglass and Paint
    Ibn Gabirol Street, Tel Aviv
  • Echo, 1995
    Mix Media
  • Chedva, 1995
    Installation view, Chelouche Gallery, Tel Aviv
  • Yotam, 1999
    Installation view, Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Peacock, 1999
    Israel Museum Collection
  • Launching Apparatus, 2008
    Installation view, Chelouche Gallery, Tel Aviv

Education
  • 1961-62 Avni Institute, Tel Aviv
  • 1962-63 Ealing School of Art, London
  • 1968-70 Hammersmith College of Art, London
  • 1975-76 Tel Aviv University, philosophy and art history

Prizes
  • 1970 – Royal Academy, London
  • 1989 – Ministry of Education Prize for Completion of Project
  • 1990 – Histadrut Prize
  • 1993 – Minister of Science and Arts Prize for Creations in the Realm of Plastic Arts
  • 1995 – Tel Aviv Museum of Art Prize
  • 1997 – Israel Discount Bank Prize for an Israeli Artist, Israel Museum, Jerusalem
  • 1999 – George and Janet Geffin Prize for Excellence in Plastic Arts, America Israel Cultural Foundation
  • 2002 – Haifa 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 Aviv
  • 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, Herzliya Museum of Art
  • 2001 – Etude, Chelouche Gallery, Tel Aviv
  • 2001 – Infinite Regress, Wiensowski & Harbord, Berlin
  • 2003 – Chedva, Gideon and all the Rest, Artists House, Tel Aviv
  • 2003 – Haifa Museum of Art, Haifa
  • 2007 – Initial Concept, Petah Tikva Museum of Art
  • 2007 – Dead Line, Beit Kanner Municipal Gallery, Rishon Lezion
  • 2008 – Launching Apparatus, Chelouche Gallery, Tel Aviv
  • 2012 – Butterflies & Pyramids, Chelouche Gallery, Tel Aviv
  • 2013 – Gideon Gechtman, 1942–2008, Israel Museum, Jerusalem
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References
  1. Ofrat G: Gideon Gechtman, works 1972-1986. Tel Aviv: Stavit, 1986. (in Hebrew)
  2. Dana Gillerman (31 May 2007). אתם לא רואים שאני הולך באוויר [You don't see that I walk on air]. Haaretz (in Hebrew). Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  3. Artist Gideon Gechtman passed away. Maariv 2008-11-28. Accessed 2008-11-28. (in Hebrew)

Museums and galleries

General art websites
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