A Watercolor Journey

This exhibition by Iris Gat takes visitors on a visual journey through England, inspired by her stay in Kent during May 2022. Enchanted by the country’s charm, its ancient towns, stone sidewalks, quiet rivers, and soaring birds, Gat translates her experiences into a rich array of artwork. Through watercolor paintings, minimalist wire sculptures, and natural materials, she creates a flowing, grounded, and immersive experience. The exhibition invites viewers to pause, step into a painting, and reconnect with the beauty and simplicity of the world around them.

Sometimes, life offer us a journey, an opportunity to step away from routine and discover something profound. Traveling can become a journey of discovery, where every step holds the potential to be a work of art. To wander the world is like gathering colors for the soul and turning them into creation...

In May 2022, I had the opportunity to join my husband, Yaniv, on a visit to England as part of his doctoral studies (Faculty of Education, Bar-Ilan University). We stayed in Kent, in the ancient town of Canterbury. While Yaniv spent most of his time at the University of Kent, I ventured out to explore the area, with its picturesque expanses, both in the fields and the streets of the old town. With watercolor paints and a sketchbook in hand, my wandering transformed into a form of artistic expression. More than once, I felt as though I was walking through a painting, and in every place I stepped, it seemed as if the world whispered stories to me in splashes of color.

This journey extended beyond the borders of Kent County, to the white cliffs of Dover, the rolling hills of the Cotswold, the colorful port towns of Wales, the impressive cathedrals in major cities, and the tranquil simplicity of England's picturesque countryside. Each place left its mark on me, and each painting became a small chapter in my travel journal.

When the opportunity arose to present this exhibition, I reconnected with the essence and joy of the trip, which encouraged me to continue creating with diverse materials: wire drawings combined with elements from nature, painting on wood, and using various textures.

In these times, when we all face moments of tension and worry, I see art as an island of comfort and serenity. May all our captives return swiftly to the embrace of their families, and may our brave and heroic soldiers be protected and succeed in all their missions.

I invite you to immerse yourself in these works, to experience the places, moments, and landscapes, and to feel the artistic inspiration drawn from England.

Iris Gat