Meet Matan Ben-tolila | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matan Ben-tolila and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matan, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I chose a creative career out of a strong, inner conviction that this is the only place where I can truly thrive. Since I was a child, every time I encountered a powerful piece of art or heard an emotionally moving piece of music, I felt that this was also my calling. To express a unique frequency in the world through my paintings. An inner frequency that only I possess, waiting to come to light at any moment and to find a deep place in the hearts of those who view it. In any other profession I might have chosen, I believe I would have felt incomplete. Only within art do I feel whole.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am so grateful for the choice to be an artist. I made the decision to pursue this path in my early twenties, and at that time, I didn’t know much about the art world. All I knew was that I had a strong passion for painting, and for exploring through colors and brushes everything that comes up and surfaces—sometimes intentionally, sometimes by chance. I chose to embark on an internal search through my paintings, seeking a form of expression for all the places where words alone are not enough. To this day, I am surprised every time a painting I’ve created reveals something new to me about the world, as if it were made by someone else, or by a force greater than me, beyond my control. This intuitive decision to become an artist has stood the test of time, despite various challenges that have made the journey difficult. I started a family, faced a range of personal dilemmas tied to the complex realities of life in Israel, but throughout it all, I held onto this precious and important thing of being an artist. An artist is someone who chooses to bring beauty, comfort, and spirit to their community and the environment in which they live.

I was born in Kibbutz Yavne, Israel, and currently live and work in Jerusalem. In the past few years my works focus on large-scale landscape paintings. My paintings linger on moments in which reality and abstraction co-exist. Though my landscapes seem to describe nowhere specific, they reflect detachment, anxiety and constant tension which characterize life in Israel.

Working in Jerusalem inspires me. Outside there is a conflicted city, unique, filled with tension and inside my studio – silence. This contradiction is the core of my work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Jerusalem, a city full of fascinating places, both historically and culturally. I am particularly drawn to the areas in the city center that best represent its human diversity. Mahane Yehuda Market is where I would begin a tour, with its wonderful food stalls, the calls of the vendors, and the dizzying colors. Just a five-minute drive away is the Israel Museum, which houses cultural treasures and offers a contemporary reading of the leading trends in Israeli art. Nearby is the new National Library, which I believe is the most architecturally beautiful building in Israel. The design of the library is one that combines the constant movement of people and vibrant cultural activity throughout the day, which is surprising for a library. The final stop on my tour would be the impressive YMCA building, where a beautiful example of coexistence between Jews and Arabs can be seen. It is a place that has hosted educational and artistic activities over the years. I hope to see more examples of such places that express a connection between identities and sectors.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe a great deal of recognition to many people for the path I have taken. In fact, to be an artist for the long term, you need a solid support system of help and moral backing. If I had to choose one figure who has been especially meaningful to me, it would be the artist Nurit David. When I studied at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem, she taught me painting for three long and rewarding years. When you’re lucky, you encounter a teacher whose passion for painting is as strong as your own, and that’s what Nurit was for me. She served as a role model to look up to, in the sense that she is an artist who is always searching, asking questions, and never stays in one place for too long. I learned from her to be an artist who is constantly in motion—someone who questions, yet also knows how to stop and appreciate a beautiful moment or a precise piece of art, pointing out both what is there and what is missing. She was a teacher who knew how to influence you in just the right way, while also giving you the space to express yourself independently and authentically. To this day, when I work in my studio, I feel how much the lessons I learned from her influence the decisions and considerations I make while painting. I am deeply grateful for that.

Website: https://www.matanbentolila.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matanbentolila/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matan.bentolila

Image Credits
Matan Ben-Tolila (Photo by: Lena Gomon)

All the artworks, Photo by: Yair Hovav.