GERSHON ISKOWITZ "NORTHERN LIGHTS #8" 1984

It is hard to reconcile Gershon Iskowitz's (1921-1988) aesthetic with his personal history. As a Holocaust survivor, he experienced the darkest side of humanity yet built a life dedicated to creating art and beauty. Born to a religious family in Poland, Iskowitz was allowed to leave Yeshiva (Jewish religious studies) in order to study art independently. The outbreak of war forced him to return to his hometown where he was conscripted to forced labor, then transferred to Buchenwald in 1944, one of the first and most notorious Nazi concentration camps. Upon liberation, Iskowitz spent nearly 9 months recuperating in the hospital. He then studied at the Academy of Fine Art in Munich before immigrating to Canada. For most of the 1950s, he incorporated representation into his art. By the 60s he had established a modest reputation in Toronto and beyond, joining the Gallery Moos stable in 1964. The legend goes that in 1967 thanks to a Canadian Council grant, Iskowitz took a helicopter tour of the north. The experience of seeing the massive expanse of trees from above inspired a major redirection of his aesthetic and material and approach. This painting is from a group of 22 works that Iskowitz produced between 1984-85, titled Northern Lights. The paintings have similar compositions, with ovoid blips depicted punctuating an oscillating monotonous substrate. Referencing nature, the composition depicts the dynamic exchange of color and light. This painting is a perfect example of Iskowitz's ability to distill the natural world into cleverly abstracted compositions. It is also worth mentioning Iskowitz's commitment to supporting future generations of Canadian artists. After his blockbuster retrospective at the AGO in 1982, Iskowitz established an eponymous foundation that would give out an annual grant to a contemporary artist. Click here to learn about the Gershon Iskowitz Prize. Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto gallery. "Northern Lights #8" Canada, 1984 Oil on canvas Signed, dated, and titled, verso 33.5"H 38"W (work) 34"H 38.5"W (framed) Very good condition Provenance: Gallery Moos; Galerie Samuel Lallouz Note: price is $29,500 CAD