The Light Within
Spiritual Healing, To Life, Home Run – Joel Mesler juxtaposes Jewish concepts and typography with his distinctive LA-inspired aesthetic, transforming the Jewish experience into bold, whimsical statements. In The Light Within, Mesler’s first solo show in Israel, the artist paints his way through memories and identities, contemplating the state of Jewishness in the diaspora with a brush dipped in humor and nostalgia. October 7 further strengthened Mesler’s desire to celebrate his heritage, even in the face of the global art scene’s antagonism towards his support of Jews and Israelis.
Mesler’s work poignantly balances playfulness with acute issues rooted in Jewish life and identity. In Home Run, he critically tackles the double-edged expectation for success among Jews—the pressure to excel and, when success inevitably draws attention, the subtle shift to resentment and suspicion. Other works spotlight the Jewish community’s resilience and unique characteristics, unbreakable even under the most challenging circumstances. They draw inspiration from the way stained glass fractures and scatters light—reflecting the complex, multifaceted nature of diasporic identity, while recontextualizing common Jewish phrases such as “light to the nations.” Alongside Mesler’s iconic canvases, the exhibition also debuts a new series of hand-crafted charms, exhibited on sculptural fronds.
Mesler has invited artist Guy Yanai to participate in the exhibition and respond to the theme “light”. In the dialogue between these two leading artists who are connected to Israel yet reside elsewhere, Yanai has rearticulated “light” through a reconfiguration of recurring motifs in his oeuvre, such as landscapes and interior spaces that may seem foreign to the Israeli eye.
The Light Within is a homecoming of sorts—a celebration of being connected and rooted yet free and restless, all wrapped up in art that nods to tradition while throwing a party on the canvas—honest, cheeky, and unapologetic.
