"…And the earth was astonishingly empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God hovered upon the face of the water…Let us make Man in Our image, after Our likeness…So God created Man in his image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them." (Genesis 1)
The interpretations diverge into the possibilities of creating "something from nothing" and creating something from an existing entity; between the Spirit of God as actual movement through air, as opposed to desire, destiny, and lofty and profound potential; the image of God as a form, a physical formation compared to attributes and values assigned to man.
The exhibition, Idol, is the third in a series of exhibitions: In Its Shadow, In the Shadow of God, and Idol, and continues promoting the theme to a large extent. The series sought to present a wide range of references to the various points of view, which at times stand in opposition to this broad subject. It continues its pursuit of tangential subjects that were conveyed in prior exhibitions: Between Sacred and Profane, Between Hidden and Revealed, What is Above; What is Below, Between Heaven and Earth.
An exhibition titled Idol can be viewed as a seductive provocation, however the accumulation of works and dialog between the artists and audience over the backdrop of the various exhibitions reveals a genuine interest in the subject.
Being in the image of someone implies an authentic resemblance to them, an established likeness, a duplicate or replica. It denotes similar attributes, desires, values, skills, and shortcomings. Entering a state of consciousness of being in someone's image, suggests the consideration of subjects of religious faith, philosophy, culture, science, and society, as well as dealing with existential questions such as man's destiny in the world, what he has acquired from his predecessors, freedom of choice, inclinations of the heart, and the impact on future generations.
Creating an image inspires intuitive work: exposing hidden parts of the consciousness and changing the approach towards them. The shadow and the image develop from inferior, insignificant, threatening qualities and transform into whole, raw materials, and the energy of creation. Chaos, darkness, the abyss, and spirit are elements of the biblical narrative from the moment of creation, as well as metaphors that are also found in contemporary works.
The works displayed in the exhibition refer to the term "image" as an object, the final product - a figure of the divine, a portrayal that combines the exploration of its internal components and the processes that led to their creation. The artworks speak of memory, search, and dreaming. They can be defined as "searching for their image."
