Avinadav Begin, grandson of former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, is currently exhibiting his latest metal and steel sculptures at Sheetrit & Wolf Contemporary Art Gallery in Tel Aviv. The works, which he describes as “openings, apertures,” are abstract forms resembling rubble and broken window frames, weighing up to 220 pounds. In interviews, Begin has emphasized his identity as an artist rather than a politician, distancing himself from his father Benny Begin and grandfather, while addressing the political turmoil in Israel, including the ongoing war in Gaza and the hostage crisis following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
This exhibition matters because it represents a personal and political statement from a member of a prominent Israeli political dynasty, using abstract sculpture to reflect on trauma, conflict, and the current state of Israeli society. Begin’s comments about the “gaping distance” between the Likud party of his grandfather’s era and today’s government, as well as his attendance at weekly protests for the return of hostages, position his art as a form of political commentary. The show highlights how contemporary artists in Israel are grappling with national crisis, and it underscores the intersection of art, family legacy, and urgent social issues.