Between Spirit and Matter

"I find a constant tension between spirit and matter, truth and illusion. In a world blurred by materialism, I express my daily battle to rise above the physical. Like a metaphysical circus, where reality and imagination collide, my painting disassembles and reconstructs itself, reflecting the endless dance between body and soul—between what is seen and what remains hidden."

One of the central inspirations for this piece is the concept of "The Donkey of the Messiah", a profound symbol in Kabbalistic and Hasidic teachings. Far from its literal meaning, the donkey represents the material world—the physical body and the struggle to elevate it toward spiritual refinement. Through the lens of Midrashim and mystical texts, it embodies humanity's process of transforming materiality into a vessel for spiritual purpose.

As Nathan Alterman poetically writes in Joy of the Poor (Simhat Aniyim):
"Meanwhile, the world still remains, and every step in it is on the back of the donkey.
And man—between earth and sky—walks silently, thirsty for tomorrow."

Medium: oil on canvas.