AMI SHINAR ART
Political
Micronesia
In his Micronesia* series, Shinar, openly and defiantly, presents a gallery of faceless figures whose individual identity is utterly meaningless, while their role in the governmental system can be easily identified by an iconographic "code". Thus, formal uniforms are displayed as if hanging on mannequins ready to wrap, over and over again, an alternates person in power: A tailored suit and a red tie for a prime minister; Hat and decorated robe for a chief rabbi; Medals for a king; Uniform for a chief of staff and headset for a spokesman.
Ahuva Israel, Curator, "Troubled Spaces", 2016
Go Away
Shinar offers a personal take on iconic public images: the surreal sight of the masked Prime Minister and his cabinet in court. On canvas, their features are blurred and flattened beyond recognition - much like the scene of the eleven Supreme Court justices who sanctioned a government led by a figure accused of corruption.
Paintings of the mass protests in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem capture the friction, the noise, and the clash with the establishment. Yet, beyond the turmoil, they reflect a deep sense of civic unity; what may look like anarchy is actually a powerful cry for change.
Vera Pilpoul, Curator, "Go Away", 2021
Warriors
Shinar presents two life-sized figures in the diptych tradition:
Warrior 1: A soldier in full uniform and gear, standing at attention and ready for orders. Warrior 2: A wounded soldier returned from battle. He has lost both legs, his face is erased, and his body is broken. Despite this, he stands upright on prosthetics, wearing a blue shirt, his hands clenched into fists. Shinar notes, "He does not give up on life; he fights."
The power of the work lies in the confrontation with two frontal figures who do not return the viewer's gaze. This "missing eye contact" creates a heavy sense of unease, reflecting the futility and horrors of war.
The work is dedicated to Uri Shechter, Shinar’s cousin. Uri served as an armored corps officer and survived the heavy battles of the Suez Canal during the Yom Kippur War, only to be killed at the very end of the conflict. He was 21 years old.
Michal Shachnai Yaakobi, Dr. Shahar Marnin-Distelfeld, Curators, "50 years to Yom Kippur War", kiryat Tivon Gallery, 2023