Yerushalayim Artist Motta Brim (Photo Essay)

By BJLIfe/Sharon Altshul
Posted on 12/15/21

Jerusalem, Israel - Dec. 15, 2021  - The smell of fresh paint filled the hallway, on a return visit to the old Shaare Zedek building where the Jerusalem Biennale contemporary art lined the walls.

As previously reported the 5th Jerusalem Biennale has brought together over 200 Jewish contemporary artists. Ram Ozeri, founder and creative director of the Jerusalem Biennale assembled over 300 works from mostly Israeli artists to be shown until the end of December in Yerushalayim. "Take me home" is the theme of the current Jewish contemporary art exhibition.

Yerushalayim is indeed the home of Motta Brim, the fourth in the series of closer looks at Biennale artists. On the door of his temporary studio located in the old Shaare Zedek building located off of Jaffa Road, a poster lists the names of his eight generations of ancestors who lived in Yerushalayim. On the floor, as one enters, is a replica of the tile flooring and on the wall to the left is a painting of his childhood home.

Finding the artist at work on his latest painting as it was nearing completion was the source of the paint I had smelled. However, Brim seemed happy to stop painting to show off some of his earlier work. 

How many of us have taken the baking papers from challah and tossed them in the garbage? Brim found meaning and beauty in the colors and shapes, prepared books, and framed prints from the papers from Shabbos and holiday baking.

Boyanner Chasidim, Motta Brim's father led a boys' school, and before following his passion to become a professional artist the younger Brim, one of 12 siblings, taught in a cheder for many years. 

Brim says he was "born with a pen in his hand." In 1967, he related how going to the Kotel he was inspired by the Arab women with baskets. The floor as one enters the upper room space where his temporary studio is located is a replica of this childhood home. Plus several of the works lining the walls displayed around the white table are inspired by his childhood in Yerushalayim, including a painting of the home of Reb Aryeh Levine z"l. 

Fans of the Israeli television series Shtisel based on a fictional Haredi family living in Geula would be interested to learn, the artist character in the show is said to be inspired by Brim, his life, and his work.

The photo essay includes images from the original press tour visit and the return visit when the artist posed for more photographs.