Tel Aviv Office Gallery presents:
"Hugged" - a solo exhibition by artist Michal Zakai
Curator: Rachel Sockman
Festive opening: Friday, 6.8.2021 at 11:00
Zamenhof 6 Tel Aviv
The issue of embracing has recently come up in the context of the corona plague that has made daily physical contact a source of danger, but it seems that it is precisely the restrictions on embracing during this period that call for thinking about the psychological and cultural meanings involved. My preoccupation with the hug began with the thought of the padding and hug at the beginning of life, when the mother?s enveloping and embracing contact mediates between the baby and the world and lays down the emotional substrate that allows for development and growth. Studies show that human fever helps the normal development of infants. It helps them understand the limits of their body, sleep well and feel relaxed during notes and be healthier. Touch is the dominant link between the baby and his environment despite their reality, with the other senses as well.
With the birth of my granddaughters, the sense of pleasure of embracing the babies was mingled with infancy memories in the kibbutz, where the care of the children was given to the caregivers, and contact with the parents was limited.
The lack of contact of the parents was intensified, if the parents were busy with the affairs of the kibbutz and were not aware and mature to give the hug at the beginning of life to each child according to his unique needs.
This point in time of understanding the missing in the hug and the wound caused to the child's future, exposed me to the 'First Hug' organization. An association founded in 2004.
This is a voluntary association in hospitals, which aims to embrace homeless babies. Familiarity with the association, intensified for me the experience and insight of the meaning of the first hug.
Thoughts about infancy in the kibbutz and the acquaintance with the 'First Hug Association' led me to raise the issue, through my works.
I seek to illuminate through my works the question of the quality or lack of the first hug, how it is embedded in the body and mind and shapes the emotional reality of the child and later the adult.
Michal Zakai's solo exhibition will be held at the Ministry Gallery in Tel Aviv during the month of August
Closing of the exhibition: 1.9.2021
Opening hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 10:00 - 17:00; Friday, 10:00 - 13:00
Gallery Hours: Tues.-Thurs., 10:00 - 5 pm; Fri., 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The artist's website:

https://www.michalzakai.com /

Closing of the exhibition: 29.8.2021

זמנהוף 6 תל אביב