The second exhibition of the Litvak Gallery in Tel Aviv establishes the place as one of the solid landmarks of the art scene in the city, and a house of the art glass bringing artists of international reputation. After the first show that gathered works of many contemporary artists of the genre, the second ‘Light and Space in the Garden of Reason’ belongs to Vaclav Cigler. Born in 1929 in Prague, the artist is one of the best known names working in the material nowadays.
Star of David
When entering the gallery the visitor realizes immediately that Cigler’s art is not only about the objects but also about the relation between the objects, the viewer and the environment. On the right-hand wall a large window opens to the landscape of the city of Tel Aviv, and a ‘Star of David’ made of optical glass (the preferred material of the artists) relates the viewer with the outer reality reflected through the work of Cigler. Especially created for this exhibition the ‘Star of David’ is not the only Jewish symbol in the exhibition. Cigler (who is not Jewish) also created a ‘Ladder of Jacob’ made of course of glass, catching the elements of reality as part of the ascending to heaven symbolism.
two spheres
Many of the objects exposed come in pairs. The two spheres play one with the other, catch the images of each other and of the external world and send them back to the viewer.
Clear Pyramid
Cigler invites the viewer to be part of the making of the art experience, by moving permanently, and watching the objects as they change their reflection of self and reality. Such is the feeling with the pyramids, another primary form preferred and often represented by the artist.
Convex and Concave
‘Convex and Concave’ is a game of alternate shapes of mirrors that reflect and change the reality.
reflecting pools (Rippled Surfaces)
The other material Cigler is using beyond glass is water. His reflecting pools like the one where a pulsing pump sends ripples in the rhythm of the heart beats play together with mirrors on the ceiling to create effects of reflection. If you come with friends at the exhibition try playing the games of seeing each other’s reflections in the pools and in the mirrors.
Flower
Even when the object gets apparently closer to a figurative representation it is still a pretext to catch the images around and send them beck to the eyes in unexpected angles.
Block with Circle Segments
In the middle of the exhibition path the visitor can go on the terrace, where a few works play with the urban landscape around the exhibition building, catches, segments and recomposes it. Picasso and the cubists would have loved these games in glass.
Sphere
I would call the final section of the exhibition the Brancusi section. It seems to be not only influenced by Brancusi. I would say that if Brancusi had created in glass, this is the way his works could have looked like.
Spheres
The dark room seems to become a tradition in the exhibitions at the Litvak Gallery. This time we are invited to see, hear, and feel a gathering of colored eggs (the shape of the Beginning of the World at Brancusi!) that seem suspended in darkness in the sounds of un-earthly music. Is this how new universes are born?
Column
The exhibition ends with another work clearly inspired by the Endless Column. Where Brancusi superposed the double pyramids accessing to the sky, Cigler places his prisms, catching the reality around and sending it back in surprising directions. Somehow the feeling is that this universe has more than three dimensions.
The exhibition is open until the end of September. Audio-guides with explanation of each work are available, as well as guided tours that start every time a few visitors gather (at least this is what happened last Friday). The English Web page of the gallery can be found at http://litvak.com/, the Hebrew one at http://www.litvakgallery.co.il/ and the youTube Channel is http://www.youtube.com/litvakgallery.