Seeking the Essence

Abi's work is reminiscent of the Paleolithic wall paintings in the prehistoric caves of southern France.  The animals depicted on the walls of the caves are made up of outlines and blocks of color.  These figures, which had a ritual-magic function, are in fact shadows.  The shadow onthe wall of the cave is the shadow of the animal captured by the hunter or of one to be captured in the future by the imaginary hunter, the shadow hunter.  In Abi Shek's drawings, the animal becomes a shadow, and Abi makes no attempt at dimensional representation.  However, one senses his understanding of the fact that a present day artist cannot become a pre-historic one. Although in some of the animals something of the magical dimension remains, the artist makes no attempt to capture them for the hunt, but rather relates to the literary aspect of their essence; one that, in the end may set them free.  The animals are somewhat like human beings: they have strengths and weaknesses, and do not represent power.  As opposed to the archetypical character shown in the cave drawings, here their uniqueness is expressed: each animal has its own personality and emotional complexity.  Some seem full of power, while others appear in uncomfortable and vulnerable postures.  This is quite obvious in the series of cows paintings, which at first seems like a picture dictionary of typical bovine positions: a cow stabbing with her horns, or a cow grazing peacefully. Two aspects of the same animal: serenity that conceals force.