In an exhibition of naïve paintings, Avraham Kan conveys an illuminating moral to the combination: Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
Kan is a wizard of color, form, life-story and lesson. His paintings, containing all the ingredients of naïve art, are a conscious and creative reversal of his tragic life story which could provide the basis for a contemporary Dickensian roman. Georgia, the mixed family, the service in the Russian navy, immigration to Israel without his father, work as a strip-club bouncer and the 12 years he innocently served in jail, are transformed by brush strokes into a life of joy and light. In an era cultivating the cranky, the misanthrope and the sour, Kan presents an island of quiet and camaraderie.
The naïve style enables Kan to consciously incorporate several values: show the world through the eyes of the pure and innocent – Liberty; to achieve an egalitarian, multi-participant, colorful harmony – Fraternity; and to create in forceful colors an idyll world, disregarding proportion and perspective – Equality.

The common denominator for all paintings in this exhibition is the congregation of images into a single entity. Whether eating, playing, fighting with each-other, dancing, crowding or resting, the figures are concentrated shoulder-to-shoulder, center frame, facing the spectator, as in an idyll family portrait.
Though flat and volume-less, the figures radiate individuality and expression. It is evident that Kan is influenced by Georgian murals and icons adorning middle-age Byzantine churches: in their elongated faces, clothing, and golden outline (such as Shota Rustaveli’s portrait in the monastery of the cross in Jerusalem) as well as Nahum Guttmann’s strong colors and humor-imbibed Tel-Aviv scenes.

Like Hitchcock and Tarantino in their films, Kan implants himself among the figures in cameo-appearances: as a child among adults, an extra among peace fighters, an orchestra conductor, etc. As such he sounds his voice both as part of the events and as an all-knowing artist facing his canvas weaving his excitement from the world in clarity, with a light determined hand.
Kan’s virtuoso, naïve painting provides a glimpse into his conciliated, forgiving personality, overflowing with love.

Closing:​ 25.10.14