Michael Halak Palestinian, b. 1975
Holy-Land Products: Strawberries, 2024
Oil on plywood
28 x 21 x 9 cm
11 x 8 1/4 x 3 1/2 in
11 x 8 1/4 x 3 1/2 in
Copyright The Artist
$ 12,000.00
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Michael Halak's artwork is rooted in the Western tradition of realist, illusory painting, with historical connections to biblical representations in church art. Born into a Palestinian-Christian family in Fassuta, Galilee, Halak's early exposure to art occurred during visits to the village church, where he was captivated by the oil paintings. His artistic development was further influenced by regular visits to the village library, where he attempted to replicate Caravaggio's works from a special art book ordered by the librarian.
The drama and turmoil inherent in Renaissance and Baroque painting find contemporary expression in Halak's work, reflecting his ties to his environment. He paints from observation—either directly or through photographs—focusing on his immediate surroundings and capturing both interiors and exteriors. While his canvases are seductively beautiful and perfectly rendered, they simultaneously convey a sense of disturbance, alluding to themes of disruption and disintegration.
Halak engages the produce of Palestine, such as olives, figs and oranges, packaged inside a cardboard box to evoke the tension between commodification, displacement, and national identity.
