The series Crossing Monty was born from long walking tours in the Montefiore neighborhood of Tel Aviv – an old, rough urban area undergoing processes of change and renewal. During my strolls, I discovered hidden inspiration in the unique buildings, the order and chaos intertwined in the urban landscape, the complexity of construction, and the vibrant life unfolding between the streets.

The works depict architecturally precise buildings, yet detached from a realistic context, existing in an imaginary-visual space where the placement of elements, the direction of light, and the choice of color do not correspond to reality. They were created using a combination of documentary photography and quick sketching, processed into compositions based on two-dimensional illusory perspective. The source of light in the paintings is always hidden, and the sharp contrast between light and shadow emphasizes sensations of distance, suspension, and emptiness.

The series continues the formal and conceptual line of metaphysical painting from the early 20th century, inspired by the works of Giorgio de Chirico. De Chirico sought to express feelings of solitude, emptiness, and suspension through dramatic shadows, unusual perspectives, and desolate spaces. Similarly, Crossing Monti uses shadows and empty spaces to provoke questions about the nature of reality, presence versus absence, and the significance of urban space in times of change.

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