The Exerciser, paintings, 2011

In this series of paintings, Galia Uri represents a range of movements from the world of Chi Kung. The art of Chi Kung is based on the principles of Chinese medicine, and includes a range of movements that are performed in a gentle and relaxed manner.

The practitioner in Uri’s paintings in an “everyman” dressed in a blue uniform, who performs in a neutral space. His movements imitate those of various animals, and are designed to impact the functioning of internal organs. His body bows, stretches, pauses and flows; its movements are performed simply and effortlessly, yet with great precision.

This moving figure is palpably present within the space of the paintings. And while Uri’s images contain a humorous element, their focal point is the transformation of the figure into a form. The practitioner moves the viewer both physically and emotionally, while his expressionless face encourages us to project our feelings onto it and to identify with the depicted figure.