Please Do Not Sit

A solo exhibition by Israeli-American artist Shlomo Harush, at the Nilufar location in Via della Spiga 32, Milan. Nina Yashar, the founder of Nilufar, curates a selection of new works that engage in a unique dialogue, manipulating and modifying objects and materials within the gallery's spaces.

Shlomo Harush (1961) has been experimenting with various media to create transformative and multidisciplinary art that portrays the human condition in its state of perpetual metamorphosis. His installations, sculptures, drawings, and multidisciplinary works are an expression of freedom. They embody his perception of the world, combined with the powerful force he physically exerts to shape and transition the work. Concepts manifest from material, and vice versa, through immediacy and the raw release of energy.

"Working with Shlomo has been a highly interesting journey. His ability to breathe new life into everyday objects and create profound and thought-provoking art aligns with the vision of Nilufar. We are thrilled to present his innovative works and foster a deeper appreciation for the transformative power of art," affirms Yashar.

The material is never dominated – instead, it becomes the protagonist, with the artist’s ideas and expressions harmoniously integrated into its form, transitioning from drawing to three-dimensional life. Light and shadow, when merged with his works, create metamorphic moments, as drawings transform into sculptures and sculptures revert to drawings. Dimensions flow seamlessly from one to another, immaterial yet perceivable. This indefiniteness allows his works to indulge in movement, with the simple flow of air playing with light. The ongoing relationship between art and function is evident in the manipulation, gravity, intertwining and nailing of metal, expressing tension, life and experience to evoke a sense of contemporary existence and artistic communication.

"I blend everyday subjects and objects into my work, manipulating them to turn away from the archetypal towards new and unexpected emblems," states Harush. Acclaimed for transforming commonplace materials like aluminum, bronze and steel into artistic experiences, he highlights the material's central role with shapes that are naïve, primitive, familiar and timeless. For this exhibition, Shlomo has created a series of installations and works that stretch the boundaries between art and function, between two-dimensional drawing and three-dimensional sculpture, and between words, ideas and material. He works with copper alloy to etch and give form to the material, not just shaping it but binding his inner thoughts into the work itself for eternity. His use of brass wire creates a three-dimensional drawing where the wire, instead of a pencil, draws a continuous line. His final work offers minimal weight, complete transparency and, with its play on light, endless new dimensions to life.

The exhibition at Nilufar represents an important milestone in the artist’s career, providing the public with the opportunity to adopt his unique vision of the world through works that defy expectations and stimulate critical thinking.