October 7

Sculptural Embroidery by Itamar Yehiel with the assistance of Shir Koren | 2024

Polyester and Cotton thread.

Mounted floating in a box frame.

54 x 74 x 4 cm | 21.2 x 29 x 1.5 inch

Inscription on reverse.

The events of October 7 in Israel stirred strong political feelings across countries and political divides. But for Yehiel the events were intensely personal. His spouse, Shir Koren, grew up less than 1,000 meters from Kibbutz Nir Oz. And among the 1,400 people dead or kidnapped many are her closest friends, her teachers, and her immediate family. 

Yehiel was there when the phone call came that they had been taken hostage, was there to greet them when they were released, and was there through the rollercoaster of emotions in between. 

Yehiel turned to needle and thread, and to nature, to capture the enormity and intimacy of the events. Embroidery has always been a tool for cultural storytelling. Here the medium is used in a unique three-dimensional way. With this piece, Yehiel sought to highlight themes of violence, sexual abuse, the burning of homes and lives, personal shock, and the ripple effect of violence. Embroidery and nature are both universal languages, allowing Itamar to touch difficult and deeply personal topics, in a relatable way, showing the connection between global and personal.

In the Old Testament, the fig leaf represents privacy, intimacy, and shame. The leaf appears ruined, burned, and riddled with holes. Vines of red thread flow from the leaf, spilling outside of the bottom of the frame and casting haunting shadows against the white surface below. 

Through the intricate medium of embroidery, Itamar delicately weaves together threads of sorrow, resilience, and empathy, and confronts the intimate realities of loss and trauma. 

Lyrics: Natan Zach, Music: Shalom Hanoch, Performer: Norit Galron