The work, the tallest in Singapore, weighs 44 tons and cost $1.3 million, and was unveiled gradually over a period of ten days.
By BARRY DAVIS
Sculptor Dudu Gerstein has made sure the Israeli flag - at least in a metaphorical sense - will fly high for a long time to come overseas. Gerstein's latest mammoth work, Momentum, which was recently unveiled in downtown Singapore, towers 18.5 meters above the locals as they cross the city's main square on their way to work at the nearby business center.
The piece was commissioned by Singapore's largest real estate company, ORQ, and comprises 175 colorful moving figures that rise and fall along the spiral-shaped sculpture.
The work, the tallest in Singapore, weighs 44 tons and cost $1.3 million, and was unveiled gradually over a period of ten days. Meanwhile, back home Gerstein's new gallery is opening today on Ben Yehudah Street in Tel Aviv.
The two-story 230 sq.m. venue will house a permanent exhibition of Gerstein's sculptures and paintings while the ground floor will serve as a kind of "open mic" facility where artists from all genres will be able to exhibit their works free of charge.
Gerstein says the gallery has been a long time coming. "I want to provide a home for works by artists who are not normally considered by the recognized galleries, and for special projects. I won't have 'house artists' here, and I want to allow as many as possible to display their works here."
Gerstein's gallery - at 99 Ben Yehudah Street - will open today with the Beauty Hunter exhibition, which will run throughout February.
The gallery will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays. Admission is free; details at (03) 539-3826.