Every day I am astounded by the perfection of Creation: the world, nature, humans, all that was, that is and that will be. Creation is a combination of the hidden and the revealed. We are occupied with the revelation of the hidden and thus contribute minutely to this wonderful world. It is this need that drives me to paint. At times, the expression is complex and at others minimal – but always a deep expression of emotions.
Facing a white canvas poses a special challenge. As an artist, I am not a substitute for a camera. I draw from nature – seek through painting that which is granted by Nature in order to discover the hidden elements not detected by the ordinary eye. My tools of quest are observation, color, shade, and composition. My means are the endless variations of light and shadow, atmosphere, and emotion. This massive wealth I translate to the canvas and present to the viewer. Every being of creation sings its unique daily praise; so too, through the paints and the canvas the artist within me reveals the wonders of creation, the “visible” and the “invisible”. In every object, I see Nature speaking to me in a language that only I understand.
I am an abstract artist. Painting is my speech. In my unique language, using the tools and techniques that I have perfected, I observe and explore and create works whose source is rooted in Creation. The end result conveys to the world an emotional experience. The language of abstraction allows me to express without words – words are the expression of the finite. The richness of nature is infinite. Abstraction aspires to the infinite; the dwelling of perfection.
Facing the work is the observer whose vision and feelings differ from mine. This observation perceives in the painting a unique narrative, not necessarily that which I intended. This too was created directly by the influence of creation. I am simply a tool.
Binyamin Basteker, 2019
Born in1953 Bombay (Mumbai), India
Moved to Israel in 1969. Lives and works in Jerusalem
Education
1966-1969 Private art studies with local masters, India
1970-1976 Kalisher College of Art, Tel Aviv Private tutelage with Arieh Margushilsky
1980-1984 Kalisher College of Art, teaches drawing and painting
1980-1984 Khan HaTurki, Kiryat Shemona, teaches drawing and aquarelle to advanced students
1988-1989 Mastering silk screen with Alimah
Solo Exhibitions
1978 "Abstract Paintings", Artist’s House, Tel Aviv
1982 "Binyamin Basteker, Paintings 1980-82", Alon Gallery, Jerusalem
1997 "Binyamin Basteker, Aquarelle Painting", Municipal Gallery, Jerusalem
1999 "An Impression from a different angle", Jerusalem Theater, Jerusalem
2000 "Absract Painting", Baeck Institute of Science, Jerusalem
2017 "Stones that Speak", Rosenbach Contemporary, Jerusalem
2017 "Binyamin Basteker, select works", Pisgat Zeev, Jerusalem
Select Group Exhibitions
1975 "New Faces", Bitan Ha’Amanim, Tel Aviv
1977 "Graduate Exhibition" Khan, Kiryat Shmona
1978 "Thirty Years of the State of Israel", Artist’s House, Jerusalem
1979 "Group Exhibition", Artist's House, Tel Aviv
1979 "The Israeli Grafotech"", Bet Ariela, Tel Aviv
1980 Fifth Biennale for Young Artists, The Haifa Museum of Modern Art
1980 "Abstract Painting", Artist’s House, Tel Aviv
2016 "Masterpieces" Art Fair, Jerusalem
2018 "Observation of Creation", Rosenbach Contemporary, Jerusalem
2018 "Viewpoint", Fresh Paint, Tel Aviv
Awards and Scholarships
1961-68 Certificates of Exceptional Artistic Talent, Baroda, India
1974 American Israel Cultural Foundation Grant
1975 Merit Scholarship for Artistic Accomplishment, Israel Ministry of Education, Department of Culture
1975-76 Keren Sharett, Foundation for Young Artists, Certificate of Honor
1978 Israel Ministry of Education, Scholarship for Overseas Art Education
Literature
Israeli Painters & Sculptors, National Modern Art Catalog, published 1981, Isart Ltd.
Collections
Permanent Collection, Helena Rubinstein Pavilion at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art
Steinherz Family Collection
Assorted Private collections in Israel and abroad