The exhibition Wall to Wall | Wall of Craft connects two areas of time and place: in the Benyamini gallery is the exhibition Wall to Wall – a photographic historical exhibition of wall murals created in Israel between the sixties and nineties of the previous century (except for a few which were created a little later). Over the road at the entrance to Kiryat Hamelacha (the Workers Quarter) on Haaretz Newspaper building (21 Shocken Street corner Haamal) is the Wall of Craft, a new mural created together by about 22 makers who work in various media (artists, designers and craftsmen) curated by the designer Avi Ben Shoshan. The historical exhibition and the new mural are in dialogue and create a bridge between historical and contemporary, and between ceramic making and architecture.
The connection between clay and architecture has existed for thousands of years, and clay was used in adobe houses, fired clay bricks and more. Also, ceramic cladding is common in ancient architecture and this connection continues and develops to present times.
Ceramic wall murals have many advantages: technologically ceramics is durable inside and outside, it can withstand temperature changes, harsh weather conditions, and the influence of UV rays. Ceramic cladding is warm with endless design options, textures and possibilities as a basis for creating an artistic or design identity.
The historical exhibition Wall to Wall, reveals the beauty of historical ceramic wall murals that dealt with different aspects of Israeli identity: local myths and biblical symbols, modernist compositions with geometric designs and textures, memorials for fallen soldiers and scenes from daily life. In the second half of the 20th century tens or perhaps hundreds of murals were created all around Israel. These walls influence the architectural space and create an identity with added value. The cooperation between architects and excellent Israeli artists whose works appear in the photographs created a new culture encouraged by municipalities that were looking for unique works to place in the public space. As a result of a legal petition of the contractor’s association the municipal by-law that required a certain percentage of the public building costs to cover artworks was cancelled. And so, this culture disappeared and by the end of the 90’s the cooperation declined to minimum support from private developers.
The new mural Wall of Craft is a tapestry of tiles where each one bears a layer of meaning, material, cultural and visual, alongside personal symbolic meanings of the makers. This mural reflects a contemporary outlook and was created with the aim of reviving the cooperation between architects and artists, and especially ceramic artists.
The purpose of the exhibition is to show the great potential of this special art and to create a dialogue about art in the public space, emphasizing ceramic wall murals – as a reminder of a culture that existed in Israel for about thirty years. Wall of Craft is an invitation to architects, developers, artists, designers, contractors, and lecturers in academic institutions – to make a change in architectural practice and utilize the potential of creating new contemporary ceramic murals.
A tribute to ceramic wall murals in Israel
Wall to Wall
Opening: Thursday, 29/5/25, 19:30
Gallery talk: Friday, 20/06/2025, 11:30
Closing: Saturday, 12/7/25, 14:00
Benyamini Center, 17 Haamal Street, Tel Aviv-Jaffa
Wall of Craft
Uncovering: Thursday, 29/5/25, 18:30
Haaretz newspaper building, 21 Shocken Street, corner Haamal Street, Tel Aviv – Jaffa
