The Postmodern Era, which has extended from the middle of the Twentieth Century until today, is characterized by its erasure of the demarcation of definitions. In this Age of Relativism, things exist on a continuum and “anything goes.” In the world of art, the expression of this age is found in the existence of the juxtaposition of multiple styles. Surrealism juxtaposed against additional styles achieves total legitimacy.

Chaya Agur is a Surrealist artist, who rules the style with great virtuosity, great emotionality and imagination. A number of groups of paintings will be shown in this exhibit; in each Chaya Agur deals differently within the framework of her style.

In the group of works entitled, “Dante’s
Inferno,” a relatively abstract type of painting appears in the Surrealist style, which gives it an especially personal dimension. Agur’s painting is hung opposite that of Hieronymus Bosch on the same topic, though they differ greatly.
The group of “Song of Songs” sketches confronts the observer with skillfully executed eroticism – most sensitively and delicately drawn; in these monochromatic sketches the artist weaves a story while reducing the image on the page; the intricately colored paintings continue to tell the story.

In the group of paintings entitled “The Music of Love,” there are variations on the style. Sections of ornamentation that appear in the paintings meld into them in harmony. The merging of musical instruments with a woman’s body raises
again the subject of eroticism in the work of Chaya Agur.

In her group of figure paintings, the artist
focuses on a dominant figure in the space of the painting, without losing her Surrealist metaphor.

In another group of paintings, Chaya Agur carries on a dialogue with Magritte and Dali, the Surrealist artists. The dialogue continues with artists from different schools, such as Botticelli, Van Gogh, Chagall and Mondrian. In this dialogue, the artist’s interpretation of each of these works emerges, shaded by her personal, unique vision.

Roni Rehav

The Mayor's greeting:

The Art Gallery of the City of Afula, one of the largest in the country, has become the home of important, well-known artists from around the country, artists who create in a variety of media, and who see the gallery as worthy of exhibiting
their works.

The existence of the Art Gallery is witness to the high estimation placed on stablishing the value of culture and society, art and creativity and the fostering of art and the development of artistic endeavor in our city and in Israel. To our delight, the Art Gallery fulfills its goals, and the finest Israel artists, side by side with local artists, display their works here. The gallery awakens enthusiasm within a large variety of gallery goers.

As part of the Shiluvim Festival, that will be held during the Succoth Holiday in October 2009, there will be an exhibition of paintings by the artist Haya Agur, an exhibition that will bring with it the winds of the wide world and will establish the gallery’s position as international.

It is a great honor for me to welcome you to Haya Agur’s exhibition. Haya is the daughter of Esther and the late Ya’acov Ben Dov, and she was born, raised and educated in Afula.

Haya was married to the late Eli. She has made her home in Holland and gotten herself an international reputation as a gifted painter, who has exhibited her works in distinguished galleries in France, Spain, Holland and other
countries. She has been hailed by art critics as one of the One Hundred Leading Artists of the Twentieth Century.

Avi Elkabetz
Mayor of Afula