On Monday, 2 December 2024, H.E. Mr. Manuel Etchevarren, Ambassador of Uruguay to the State of Israel hosted an exhibition of graphic art by Amijai Benderski, a prominent Uruguayan artist at the Bezalel Art Academy of Arts and Design.
About the Artist
Amijai Benderski was born in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1988. Among his works, the following are most prominent, the visual identity system of "Campeon del Siglo" FIFA stadium of the football Club Atletico Penarol and the brand for Women, Peace and Security of the United National Security Council. The Social Poster exhibition was part of the Uruguayan plan for Human Rights education. The World Peace symbol was part of the Designing Peace exhibition, showcased at the Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco and at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York.
He has given talks, workshops and held exhibitions in Lodz, New York, Ottawa, Toronto, Warsaw and in six cities in Uruguay. He is also the founder of the Uruguayan Archive of Visual Communication.
Pressing for Progress
The collection of graphic posters on display is an integration of traditional art and craft with contemporary social themes. Each work was printed with movable type on handmade cotton paper. The works function as comments on subjects that are present on the Human Rights agenda, such as tolerance, gender equality and peace. The aim is to generate a transformation in perspectives in order to aspire action.
Social Poster Exhibition
The collection of posters aims to achieve a thought on the different subjects that are present in the Human Rights agenda. It is an invitation to think about subjects in a different way, through the use of image and typography applied to a poster. In addition to the exhibition, workshops were held. During these experiences participants produced their own posters. The workshop complements the exhibition, providing a hands-on experience in poster design and providing a platform in order to express ideas on Human Rights.
US
The exhibition brings together two bodies of work that explore the role of design in addressing social subjects. Through posters and letterpress prints, US invites you to reflect on peace, truth and justice. The Social Posters exhibition explores key themes in global discussions on human interaction with each poster highlighting a subject from the Human Rights agenda i.e. World Peace Symbol, The Missing Ones, Definition of Tolerance, The Missing Question, Trapped Nation, International Women's Day, Dove for Peace, A Nation of Immigrants, Frequency of Tolerance and Decarbonisation. Pressing for Progress, printed by Rodrigo Cuberas, combines traditional letterpress techniques with contemporary themes. Printed on handmade cotton paper crafted by Vicky Sigwald, these works explore the relevance of diversity.Together, these posters attempt to show how design can be used as a tool and promoter of Human Rights.
Guests were welcomed in the Academy's auditorium by Ms. Dana Gez, Head of the Communications department of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. She mentioned that graphic design has the ability to affect our way of looking at life. She also mentioned that the power of design can overcome social problems.
H.E. Mr Manuel Etchevarren, Ambassador of Uruguay to the State of Israel started his speech saying that he is honoured to be present at the event. He thanked the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design for hosting the exhibition and for the positive interaction showcasing one of Uruguay's most important young and talented artists. We understand the importance of art which serves as a bridge between peoples and cultures. Graphic design is one of the most direct art forms. It was initially cultivated by Toulouse Lautrec. The need to transmit ideas, concepts and feelings in a lucid way with less mediation and more efficiency is part of its essence and charm. The spectator is the final judge of the quality and truth of the work and its message. Amijai's works are created for diverse situations and contexts in which a feeling of hope and enthusiasm is conveyed. Last year Israel celebrated its 75th anniversary of national independence which was simultaneously marked by the 75th anniversary of friendship and support from Uruguay. Uruguay supported the creation of Israel well before its foundation in 1948.There is a possibility that Amijai's exhibition will tour Israel in 2025 however venues are still to be decided as the Embassy is open to suggestions ranging from Metula on the Lebanese border to Israel's most southern town, Eilat.
The last speaker was the artist himself who thanked everyone present with emphasis on his friends and the Embassy in actualizing this exhibition. His graphic designs were shown on a large screen starting with photographs of Uruguay and its beautiful Atlantic coastline. His greatest inspiration came at an early age from one of his Mother's paintings which was of Jerusalem. He started drawing at the tender age of six and showed us a signed drawing of his from that period. Seven billion people inhabit the earth and that is what his art focuses on. He regards the alphabet as the most relevant invention of humankind. He stated that good graphic design is visually powerful, intellectually elegant and timeless, which he quoted from Lella and Massimo Vignelli, a world famous Italian couple renowned for their iconic achievements in the world of graphic and industrial design He shared pages of his sketchbook which is his most effective source of creativity. A long presentation view of mostly Uruguayan graphic designs were shared with the audience ranging from bus tickets to posters made for Jazz festivals. Interestingly the designer that created the London Underground's logo, today a household image, was a Uruguayan designer.
Diplomacy.co.il is thankful to the Embassy of Uruguay in the State of Israel for hosting an unusually memorable,
