History of Violence

Tali Ben Bassat

It seems that the units that make up Tali Ben Bassat's work, and which are composed of transparent and delicate watercolors on paper, were painted with ink and blood. Devoid of any human presence, they depict scenes that are at once apocalyptic, ecological and cultural. The only movement in these works is the movement of survival: helicopters searching for familiar signs of life; animals gnawing at a dead body; hovering birds, which are either taking off and flying away or sinking and dying; lava that threatens to cover and destroy. One of the works features a sun that appears several times - simultaneously bright, shining and fading. This disruption of the cosmic order amplifies the sense of discomfort and imperfection that arises from the depicted scenes. Yet this exposed violence, disruption and estrangement are clearly revealed to be a consequence of human action, rather than of a transcendent force or an unforeseen catastrophe. This impression is attested to by the barbed wire fences, watchtowers, electric cables and vehicles that allude to an intentional, planned act of destruction - one that may have gotten out of control.

Born in Rishon Lezion; lives and works in Tel Aviv