New Israel Guinness World Record: Largest stencil artwork on earth

The work, presented on the rooftop of a hotel in Zichron Ya’acov, is by Ame72.

By HAGAY HACOHEN
'The Maze' by Ame72 (photo credit: Courtesy)
'The Maze' by Ame72
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Israel surpassed Saudi Arabia and now holds the Guinness Book of World Records claim for the largest stencil artwork on Earth, according to the Elma Hotel and Arts Complex in Zichron Ya’acov, where it’s being displayed.
The work, measuring 267 sq. m., was created by James, who prefers the name Ame72 for his artistic career.
The British born artist, 46, has been living in Israel since 2006. His maze is a collection of urban scenes mounted on aluminum panels.
The light weight of the frames allows the modular panels to be readily re-arranged. It features figures that resemble Lego characters such as featured in the 2017 film The Lego Batman Movie.
 

Ame72 has painted his art in Hollywood, New York, and the West Bank separation wall. Much of his work deals with social evils and the rejection of commercialism.
Ame72 sells his work via his website at prices ranging from $200 to $2,000. In his West Bank barrier work, two figures wearing space-suits are shown as thinking about peace. Other works contain slogans like “I wish my wife was this dirty” and “It was me!”

Israel has a lively street-art scene with guided tours on offer in south Tel Aviv and Haifa.
Recently, former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley was honored with a portrait on the shutter of a stall at Jerusalem’s Mahaneh Yehuda market painted by local mural artist Solomon Souza.

Another well-known graffiti artist, Know Hope [Addam Yekutiel] started out on the streets of Tel Aviv.
In 2017, he was invited to mount a solo exhibition at the Lazinc Contemporary Art Gallery in Mayfair, London.
The show helped establish how an art form once viewed as a nuisance and visual litter has become mainstream.