Tearing nature into shape, as it takes revenge
by Shimi Cohen
The plight of the Dead Sea is scary, like a horror movie.
Our salty wonder child is drying up and becoming extinct under the auspices of indifference, fluttering on the bottom with exposed nerves, and in return pulling out predatory sinkholes.
The sea once proudly proclaimed, with it’s black mud and selfies, sat in the lowest place in the world, is a scorching testimony to how low this country can sink.
Then came two kibbutzniks who decided to resurrect this image, our great sea.
Modestly but with a brilliant idea, a spectacular project rises on Kalia Beach in the north of the Dead Sea that attracts leading street artists from Israel and the world - Gallery Minus 430. The artists gathered and created a living art space in front of the dying beaches. The result is captivating.
The urban desolation of what was once a Jordanian army camp has become a complex of spectacular giant paintings with strong messages, all on a full-time volunteer basis.
If it’s indifference you want, look elsewhere.
This is a special project called ‘Gallery Minus 430’ . The name derives from the lake’s height ‘above’ sea level.
The project was created to raise awareness of the dismal state of the Dead Sea area as we know it. This sea is slowly dying, shrinking all the time. The beaches are far from ideal but the artwork aims to add more colour to the area, currently dominated by the desert yellow and the Judean blue of this inland sea.
There is also another goal, to raise the issue of coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians living in neighbouring Jericho.
This is a special project of 30 artists from around the country and from around the world. But not many know that this is a volunteer project and none of the painters receive any financial reward.
The buildings that were formerly used by the Jordanian army have existed for about 40 years, but only recently with the joint effort of Itai & Maor, a resident of nearby Kibbutz Kalya, PPL studio staff and artists from abroad, who shared the vision was this beautiful exhibition created.
The paintings are of a protest nature and the result is photogenic and spectacular.
FIELD REPORTER
