The paintings and drawings of Israeli artist Avner Ben-Gal (*1966) show barren landscapes with burning houses and isolated figures. The implied narratives have nothing in common with the visual propaganda of the mass media which confronts us day after day from the Near East. Instead, they create a reality that interprets recent history within the framework of their own poetic and fantastical universe. At the same time, the grim undertones of these often mythological or allegorical images engage in subtle reflection on the means available to a painter. The dreamlike scenarios literally elude observation, often obscured and sometimes even invisible under a monochrome veil of color.Following participation in many international group exhibitions, Ben-Gal’s work is now the focus of this publication, which accompanies his first solo show. It includes works from recent years as well as his latest paintings.Exhibition schedule: Kunstmuseum Basel, Museum für Gegenwartskunst, January 18–May 4, 2008