Breuer-Weil's 1,200 Worlds: A New Exhibit in Tel Aviv
The London-born artist presents a 3.76 x 6.88 m. painting of the October 7 victims alongside works exploring Jewish identity in Britain.
By Camila Herrera ·
David Breuer-Weil’s first solo exhibition in Israel opened recently at the Sheetrit & Wolf Gallery in Tel Aviv’s Neveh Tzedek neighborhood. Titled Achdut, or Unity, the show features a large-scale painting created in direct response to the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. The work, called Morning, measures 3.76 by 6.88 meters, matching the exact dimensions of Pablo Picasso’s Guernica.
The canvas depicts hundreds, perhaps thousands, of figures that the artist describes as worlds. Each figure represents a person killed in the attacks. Breuer-Weil stated that 1,200 people died, meaning the painting contains 1,200 worlds. He began the piece immediately after the attacks and finished it on October 25, 2023. The title refers to both the sunrise and the mourning that followed. The artist said he felt the magnitude of October 7 was similar to the bombing of Guernica, though his canvas holds far more figures than Picasso’s nine.
Breuer-Weil was born in London to a father who fled Vienna in 1938 to escape the Nazis. His father was named George as a child to help him gain entry to England. The artist says this history of being an outsider influences his work, which often features crash-landed figures. He studied at Central Saint Martins and cites the English sculptural tradition as a major influence on his style. That tradition merges with a Jewish sensibility rooted in his upbringing and Talmudic education.
The exhibition includes the Home series, consisting of 18 gold paintings and four sculptures. These pieces depict people embracing, inspired by photographs of families reuniting with released hostages. Breuer-Weil said he saw the images as deeply human and powerful. The series captures the moments of reunion during the long months of captivity.
The artist is also developing a memorial for the Jewish community in Britain. Endorsed by the Israeli Embassy and Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the memorial will be located in Brighton. It will honor families who lost relatives on October 7, including the family of Adam Ma’anit, a prominent advocate for Israel in the UK. Breuer-Weil noted that the project serves as a memorial for the community’s experience during the crisis.
The show addresses the question of Jewish unity in Britain. The artist says that while England has been a refuge for Jewish people, current times are difficult. He questions what unity means for Jewish people today. The exhibition includes works that explore these contradictions and the concept of connection, such as a sculpture called Brothers that depicts two people sharing one mind.
Breuer-Weil intends to gift Morning to Israel as a statement of support and empathy. He does not expect anything in return. The painting is currently on view in Tel Aviv along with related studies. The gallery is searching for a permanent home for the large canvas and a related sculpture that the artist hopes will stand in Tel Aviv. The exhibition remains open at the Sheetrit & Wolf Gallery in Neveh Tzedek.
