Oshri Sabag, a young Israeli artist from Bet Shemesh, has developed a unique concept to express the painful stories of the Jewish people since the tragic events of October 7 through digital art. Oshri has been passionate about drawing since he was 15. As he grew older, he honed his skills and aspired to make it his profession. After his military service, he started at Hadassah Academic College in Jerusalem to study technical drawing. However, when war broke out in his fourth year of studies, his perspective shifted dramatically. His art became a way to support a nation devastated by ongoing tragedies for nearly a year. In addition, he works on product design for various Israeli companies. Portrait of a budding artist promises a bright future.
Since October 7, Oshri has focused on digital design of Jewish symbols, integrating personal stories of Israelis affected by the war: Magen David, maps of Israel, symbols of hostages, menorahs, broken matzahs, and portraits. Oshri contributes to the collective effort by providing comfort to a suffering people. His designs, primarily posted on his Instagram page, are both diverse and meaningful.
"I work with computer software to create my designs. I choose the shape, color, size, and model, then sculpt and rotate them in 3D for some. I draw inspiration from everything around me, sometimes stopping in the street to photograph things that catch my eye, and then I draw them. This type of art allows me to fully express myself and unleash my creativity. I always look for ways to tell my story through the feelings and experiences of people I meet," Oshri told Itonnews.
The Major Impact of October 7
The events of October 7 had a significant impact on Oshri's art. In the wake of the war, he "absorbed" everything that happened in the country—the pain, anger, and horror—and immediately felt the need to incorporate his people's emotions into his art.
"Several times, I sculpted the map of Israel, which represents us as a nation, and dressed it with a personal story related to October 7. The map of Israel symbolizes the struggle for this land that we love," he says.
Survivors of Nova, families of hostages or injured people have reached out to him to depict their stories in his creations. "I completely identify with the journeys of these people and their values. The emotions they convey are like fuel for me to create the designs." It takes him between two weeks and a month to complete a work, which he then sends to clients via email as a PDF, and they can be printed. His clients mostly contact him through Instagram.
"I realized the impact of my art when I received messages from Nova survivors. They said, ‘We never thought we would be compared to Holocaust survivors.’ They had seen one of my works, which is a Magen David with one half in yellow (Shoah) and the other half on Nova. It gave them a lot of strength, and they thanked me. Many don’t know how to approach such a sensitive topic, and I think I’ve found a way to touch the audience without words. When I receive positive feedback like this, I feel I’ve fulfilled my role, and it encourages me greatly to continue. If we don’t tell their stories, no one will", Oshri explains.
Oshri made a work about a couple of Nova festival-goers, one of whom is still a hostage in Gaza and the other was rescued from the shelter where she was hiding from Hamas terrorists.
"Ziv wrote to me on Instagram and wanted me to tell his story and that of her partner Eliya, who was kidnapped in Gaza while they were about to get engaged. I drew them both, with the symbol of the hostages, a blindfold over Eliya's mouth held by Hamas, the cursed date of 7/10 and Ziv's tears. I thus conveyed their traumatic experience so that no one forgets what happened to them," he explains.
A Broken Heart
One of Oshri’s most significant works combines two sorrows: the loss of his father a few months before October 7, and the daily pain caused by the war. He depicted a red map of Israel with a paragraph of Tehilim on one side and a broken heart on the other. This sculpture rotates in 3D.
"It was one of my first works that achieved great success on social media. I poured all my grief into it as I had just lost my father. It’s a double sorrow; he was such an important person in my life, and this personal pain merged with the broader sadness we all experience. With the Tehilim, I wanted to signify that it’s time to pray hard for the survival of the country, which faces terrible attacks on all sides", Oshri recounts.
The young man says that faith and God help him overcome the daily struggles. With this work, which significantly marked his career, Oshri realized that people could genuinely connect with art in a profound way, even if they have not personally experienced the tragedy.
"With this type of art that combines current digital trends with the stories of the Jewish people, anchored in the present, I hope to reach a broad audience", Oshri says.
In this extremely challenging period for Israel, Oshri tries to provide solace and help those who suffer through authentic aesthetic creations that convey messages with both personal and universal significance.
He is currently preparing a major project for the one-year anniversary of October 7, which will compile stories from victims of the tragedy. Ultimately, he hopes to work with international companies and share his story in different countries around the world.
Instagram of Oshri Sabag : https://www.instagram.com/3d.oshri/
Caroline Haïat
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