Eyal Assulin

Mixed media artist, Ofakim, Israel

See his work on his website.

Eyal Assulin (born 1981) resides and creates in Israel, with a global presence in the art world. He holds a degree from Bezalel's art department and has achieved a master's degree in their continuing education program. Eyal is a recipient of prestigious awards, including the "Artist in the Community" recognition for the years 2009-2013, the "Young Artist" accolade in 2014, the "Creative Encouragement" award in 2017 and more. His artwork has graced the walls of museums and galleries both in Israel and internationally.

Within his visual narrative, Assulin delves into the culture of excess, exploring its ties to global economic and social phenomena. His works are a reflection of the cultural dynamics of the East while maintaining an intricate web of historical, gender, and artistic symbols. In a brazen manner, he addresses the rampant consumerism that characterizes modern society.

On a day etched into memory, October 7th, a moment of dissonance unfolded in Ofakim. At 6:30 a.m., Eyal received a call from his mother, inquiring about the sounding alarms. With his wife and three daughters, they swiftly found themselves in the emergency room. Eyal ventured outside after five minutes to glimpse the interception signs in the sky, another alarm punctuating the air. This time, a distinctive sound of gunfire, barely audible, reached his ears. He immediately sought shelter, checking his neighborhood's WhatsApp group, revealing a chilling video of Hamas terrorists armed with RPGs. The instinctive response was to initiate a total lockdown. The house was secured, blinds drawn, and Eyal armed himself with large knives while monitoring WhatsApp groups, Facebook, and television. The backdrop of gunfire, missile alerts, and interceptions placed them in a reality vastly different from the one they had known, shattering the illusion of personal security.

The relentless alarms persisted, coupled with news of terrorists in the neighborhood, some of whom Eyal knew from daily life in the city. The feeling of helplessness in the face of this catastrophe was overwhelming. 

In the wake of these events, Eyal found it impossible to return to his studio. The urgency of the situation and concerns for personal safety loomed large. He was in the process of creating a monumental sculpture for an art festival in the Emirate of RAKAT. Due to the circumstances, production had to be relocated to China to achieve the project's goals. Simultaneously, various projects he had initiated to support his wife and three daughters were halted and, regrettably, some were canceled due to the ongoing war in Israel. Now Eyal offering a limited editions of his work for sale , while hoping for a more peaceful and united reality.

Links:

KAN 11: https://www.kan.org.il/content/kan-news/local/247598/

Portfolio Art magazine: https://www.prtfl.co.il/archives/106772

Portfolio Art magazine: https://www.prtfl.co.il/archives/120562