Architects Paint - Eran Jacoby אדריכלות ישראלית Architecture of Israel #128 February 2022 | | 94 How does your mastery of painting contribute to your architecture? Although the market is flooded with visualization apps, the real planning is done in the head, and the possibility to instantly put the idea on paper is a powerful advantage. The ability to see the future project is an important addition to the architectural statement, and experience has taught me at the end of a long journey of planning and re-planning, you often return to the initial idea and discover that it is the most successful... and how you were able put it on paper. I'm sure you have an example Indeed, I've even prepared one... The Contemporary Art Gallery in Ramat Hasharon. When I first proposed it to the mayor he immediately asked me to prepare a proposal within two weeks. I assume that your own experience as an exhibiting artist helped you plan the art gallery, both as a structure that serves as a neutral backdrop for different works, as well as a new construction within an established residential neighborhood. I suppose knowing what the demands are of an artist from the space in which he is supposed to present his works has helped us formulate the architectural idea based on a transparent envelope that reveals the changing content to enrich the environment. For this, we planned a funnel-like mantle that exposes the latent rear courtyard gradually to the street. And by the way, this preliminary idea was approved with almost no comments and architects paint Eran Jacoby - the well of salvation Reut Ber adotte the final project was built according the initial proposal. Your paintings reveal that there is always a story behind the figures ... something that perhaps borders on a black humor… Who said there isn't humor in hell? ... When I "served" as a prisoner in the Abbasiya Prison in Cairo after falling captive in the Yom Kippur War, the days and nights revolved around incessant investigations with all it entails. One night, after a particularly tough interrogation, during which I was subjected to incessant cursing and derogatory names translated to me by a Hebrewspeaking man, I was thrown like a sack of potatoes into a dark dungeon. I fell into a restless sleep on the floor, and here, late at night I heard the door hinges creaking - which usually did not bode well. A fuzzy figure entered the cell and locked the door behind him. "I want to tell you something," said the man in heavy Hebrew, and I immediately recognized the "interpreter" from the interrogation room, "I was born in Haifa like you" he said, "the mayor at the time was Hassan Shukry. "I want to apologize for calling you Jahash (a young stupid donkey). But esma (listen) - a donkey is not as bad as you think - he knows how to carry heavy loads, stubborn, smart and has a good heart! Don't break down, it will be alright." Then he got up and faded into the night. I've never seen my "colleague" from Haifa again, but his apology has been with me my whole life. There is no doubt that the experience of captivity upsets all your world-views. But most of all it teaches you what is modesty, sharing and consideration - things that became the iron rules in my life. How is this reflected in your paintings? In retrospect I find that a significant part of my work focuses on human behavior patterns: people in situations of being 'alone' with their thoughts, reflections, conflicts and everyday dilemmas. And this is what motivates me to keep creating. I guess it's also reflected in your architecture ... Definitely. The design is paved with insights acquired at a cost. The Gallery, for instance, is a large public building planted between houses in the heart of a quiet residential neighborhood originally built around an old well which allowed the the first inhabitants to work as farmers. Hence, the well is integrated into the tour route, while its modest presence adds interest to the exhibition spaces. The gallery is a one-story building curving from the front through the exhibits to the artists' workshops and the rear courtyard with a small amphitheater at its center. All while combining opposing goals of attracting a casual audience and taking into consideration the needs of the local community, where, by the way, Ruti and I live. Born and raised in Haifa, Eran Jacoby was admitted to the Technion's Faculty of Architecture shortly after his release from military service. Later, he studied at the New York Studio School, going on to set up an independent architecture office with his wife, Ruti Feldman Jacoby. In parallel, he worked as press illustrator; his paintings have been exhibited many times in Israel and abroad, and some are displayed to this day at the official residence of the President of Israel. Architects Ruti Feldman Jacoby and Eran Jacoby
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