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( t e m p o r a r y ) H a p p i n e s s The central theme of this show is the wedding ceremony, one of the basic and most significant cultural symbols - the fantasy of ultimate happiness. The metaphorical anchor of the show is the Versailles disaster as a story of an illusion and its shattering. Excerpts from the tragic testimonies of the wedding guests are incorporated into the carpet. Together, the five sculptural objects on display generate a setting that resonates with the decor of a banquet hall signified as a site of catastrophe. The sentimental and tragic excess of the images is treated here with brittle, minimalist frugality characteristic of Tal Amitai's sculptural language. Akin to empty shells, the objects comprising the show highlight the concentration on surface appearance and decoration. Excerpt from the catalogue: "The display space as a whole is signified as the site of an evaporated promise, the scene of a refuted dream, a collection of structures emptied of meaning. [...] Through minimal means the artist conveys an appearance of perfect happiness, an ephemeral setting for a threepenny romance that is entirely a distraction. The false gift ribbons of the car, the fake glitter of the ‘happiness' inscription, and the hollow bride-groom clichés, all attest to disillusionment with the Prince Charming legend, presenting the dream of happiness as a mere ephemeral illusion." Tami Katz-Freiman Exhibition Curator |
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