Originally
trained as a painter, my fascination with sculpture began during
my stay in London when the atmosphere and the light became colder
and less vibrant for me. This was a drastic change from the warmth
and brightness of Israel where I grew up. Unlike in paintings,
repetition became a recurrent theme in my three dimensional works.
My
artwork has been greatly influenced by the fact that my childhood
was interrupted because of my experiences in the Holocaust and
the loss of both my parents. Perhaps the most influential event
in more recent years to affect the evolution of my art was the
death of my 19 year old son in Israel's war with Lebanon (1982).
This difficult loss caused me to refocus on my feelings about
the Holocaust and to create sculpture that was more symbolic about
resistance and survival. I believe that resistance and survival
stands for strength and power, and that survivors should not be
viewed as victims but as the underpinning for new life and renewal.
I began constructing pieces where I used repetition (usually six
figures with each representing one million souls) and sharply
defined forms to convey the fact that resistance can be a powerful
force for continuity and the survival of a people-this is especially
clear in the case of the six million Sometimes the six forms stand
separately and sometimes they are attached so that they emerge
as one unique form. In some sculptures, each of the six forms
is painted with a different bright color which seduces even very
young viewers to become engaged with the work..
My
belief in the importance of the strength of all people to stand
up against evil forces continues to be the inspiration for new
works.
Ephraim
Peleg
