Dubai: When Israeli artist Elior Hazan made 'Peace of Art'

“When I was a kid, I used to work in the Carmel Market in Israel, painting on the Tel Aviv promenade for $5 and working various jobs in order to support myself and my family. As I grew up and became more prominent in the art community, I chose to remain humble and remember my roots, my community, where I come from, just like the character from the movie,” says the artist, who was in Dubai last month, as part of a first of its kind artists residency with Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown, an art boutique hotel. Through a live art performance on the last weekend of April 2021, during the Peace of Art Night at the hotel, he painted people across cultures to illustrate the multicultural aspect of the UAE. “I aspire to engage communities through my art and my live performances, for everyone to feel included and I am happy that my art encourages the UAE residents to come to immerse themselves in the Israeli culture,” he said.

As part of the Peace of Art project, Elior Hazan teamed up with five incredibly talented home-grown artists of varying nationalities, who each contributed to the final piece of art. Artists included Iraqi artist and architect Muhanad Al Nassiri, Paris-born digital and mixed media artist Chloé Robin a.k.a Azaidé, Pakistani fine artist Ramsha Fatima, and Emirati artists Mediyah Al Maktoum and Reem Al Falasi.

He flew back home earlier this month, with a promise to be back soon, “I am incredibly grateful to have been given this opportunity to visit Dubai, for the first time ever, to explore the culture and the heritage of art practices. This first artist residency was so enriching and successful that it has provided several opportunities to grow as an artist in the UAE. I am looking forward to many more artistic projects, some currently being discussed which I cannot reveal, just yet. I am confident that you will see me again, soon,” he said.

Excerpts from our conversation.

What does art mean to you?

Art is not just about aesthetics. It is therapy, a kind of liberation, it can help us escape from reality and develop our imagination. It is truly joyful, and to me it gives hope. Art is also a universal language that everyone can understand, in this sense art is unifying. Indeed, it is a powerful communication tool.

Where would you say your early inspirations from art came from?

My initial inspiration came from the neighbourhood where I grew up, which has lots of art galleries and street art. This was where I painted my first mural for which I continue to get feedback and positive accolades. Of course, every stage I go through in life also helps me grow as an artist and adds volume and soul to my creations.

Any experiences from your childhood that you’d like to share with us?

As cliché as it sounds, anything is possible. All my life I have loved art and I have wanted to create art without thinking about how much money I would make. One day, I was contacted by a Hollywood star that I painted on a surfboard. In one instant, because she loved my style, I became famous and managed to take my art to the next level.

Your art is a mix of graffiti meets revolutionary, if we may say so. Tell us a little about the thought process when you approach a subject?

I think art is revolutionary because in every painting and every sculpture there is a statement, even if you draw an apple on a black background there is a statement in it. When I create, I draw a life story and, in each drawing, you can see the details and all the stages of the person I am portraying. The statement does not have to be revolutionary but a statement of peace, love and humanity. My revolution is unity.

Do you have any specific material that you like to paint on the most, walls, surfboards, etc.?

As an artist, I like to experiment with various materials, I believe any material or item can be turned into a work of art. I particularly like to paint on wood because of the way it absorbs the colours and the possibility of adding other elements to it. One of my recent works on wood was a painting of an Israeli famous Rabbi to which I added 16,000 screws to elevate the art piece. I also love to create with epoxy and have started making metal sculptures which will soon be available to the public on my website. This is another material or medium that one can turn into a work of art.

Colours, patterns, materials, inspirations: in what order do you feel they matter when it comes to creating a work?

Creating art connects us all. You can get inspired and then know what material you will use and what colours will be dominant or see material and get inspired or just start painting and something amazing will come out. I like to combine a lot of elements and effects, even if they are not noticeable because in my eyes it makes the work richer.

How would you describe the pop style of art to a layman?

To me, pop art relates to everything of use, to everyday life. It is truly a style in which anything is possible. It is all about bringing life and volume to things through art.

Could you compare the Dubai art scene with that of Israel?