A ravaged painting by Israeli artist Ziva Jelin called "Curving Road" was "rescued" and exhibited in the Israel Museum on Sunday, Nov. 12. The painting depicted a gloomy and crimson-like rendition of an empty blacktop pathway that leads to Kibbutz Be'eri, Jelin's home.
According to the painter, she used red paint completely by chance as it was the only shade of paint she had at the time of making the art in 2010. However, that shade now signifies grim imagery in light of the recent events in Gaza.
Disturbing the mostly red-hued backdrop of Jelin's work are two chalky spots caused by shrapnel. The damage occurred during the now-infamous attack of Hamas on Oct. 7, as they charged into Gaza, razing the area, claiming the lives of residents, kidnapping others, and essentially starting the still-raging Israel-Hamas war.
The town of Kibbutz Be'eri remains one of the most horrendously devastated areas due to the Hamas attack. While the siege erupted outside her house, Jelin and her kin hid inside their bomb shelter and waited out the rampage.
Residents who survived the encounter eventually cleared out before Israel launched its counter-offense, shelling the Hamas troops in the area.
What the Red Painting Means
In a statement to Reuters, Jelin explained that originally the red in the painting represented a source of "strong emotion" or "something that lights up the sky," but now she thinks people today will interpret her painting differently.
For Jelin, the viewers will likely make the connection of the red color to the "Red Alerts" that rocket sirens "scream out."
"I respect anyone viewing it who understands it in that way, but that's not where I came from," she shares.
It's a dream come true for the painter as one of her artworks is taken in by the Israel Museum, but she reiterates her awareness that this is only possible because of the events that happened and are happening along the Gaza strip.
Jelin recognizes her artwork as "survivors," just like her and her family, saying "The paintings today are testimony of what we all went through."
