A Wondrous Conversation with Yoram Gal

Courtesy of the artist

Yoram Gal is an Israeli multi-disciplined artist, writer, director, actor-producer. He has been exhibited internationally as well as performed as an actor and produced and directed various projects in film, tv, and theater. His artwork has been given many awards and is held in many collections around the world. I had the pleasure of speaking to Yoram about what his favorite form of art is when presenting an authentic narrative, how different countries view his art, and how he makes acting visual.

UZOMAH: What makes you get interested in a role as an actor?

YORAM: As an actor, there were several ways to play a role: get an offer or play in my own play. If I was offered a good, juicy role that I felt I could really dig my teeth into, and have fun, I’d do it. If it was an international big film with a shallow role but big, and carrying lots of money, might do that too. In my own plays and adaptations of classics I chose and controlled it all. That was always my preference. I knew the depth and juice of the role and loved doing it.

“Good morning,” 22x30, on paper 2020

U: How can an artist use more than one medium to form various narratives?

Y: I felt from my teens that one can do anything one chose to. I painted, then studied acting and directing and stage design, lighting, did those. Wrote plays, produced, wrote books, directed a movie. I felt like doing it and did it. I now divide my time between painting and writing books because that’s what I love doing, at this stage of my life. It’s a choice. If you love it, you can do it.

U: How do you use your various forms of art to make a true authentic narrative? Which is your favorite?

Y: I love writing, but also painting. I used to love acting but lost that affinity after 25 years on stage and in front of cameras. The necessity in performing arts- theater and film- to depend on others in order to create the final piece, was taking away my joy more and more. I love creating my own world. Without losing energy on friction with others.

“Starry night in Tel Aviv,” Canvas. 28x40

U: What role has stood out to you the most as an actor?

Y: The pawnbroker in Dostoyevsky’s story “A gentle spirit” which I adapted into a one-man show. Harpagon in Moliere’s The Miser, The Rooster in my own play: The Rooster, Everyman, in my own play “Everyman”.

“Till death us do part,” Canvas. 48x36. 2020

U: Can you describe how you use and select colors when painting?

Y: Intuitively.

Simply.

I go with my feeling. My gut. My excitement. Colors are my loves. I get excited like a baby, or a dog when he gets a great bone. I just go and plunge into painting. It never ceases to excite me, to see how this mixes with that, etc...

“The Dance of Wisdom,” canvas, 64x46, 2019

U: What are the differences in the countries you have exhibited your art and how they perceive it?

Y: In China, they were excited about my colorfulness as if I came from the moon. In America, they sometimes found it overwhelming but on the whole loved its audacious, daring explosion. In Israel, same reactions, some are intimidated by the abundance of colors and most are loving it. Europeans are colder, but love my expressionistic explosion of wild colors and sometimes edgy sometimes intensely erotic, revealing, confessional pieces. On the whole, I found all people from dozens of countries react similarly.

The 500 year old,” Canvas 48x36 February 21

U: In your feature film "WILD," what were the pivotal moments where you realized you had captured the essence of your story?

Y: When I had the idea to write it, at 4 am, upon waking in the middle of the night, I knew it was done.

“Seattle VII”, Canvas,” 48x60. 2021

U: What makes art something you cannot live without?

Y: Therapeutic, is art. It saves my life every day by unloading excess angst. It is my lifeline. Oxygen. Not because it’s something high and noble, but because it is therapy to my soul and body.

U: How do you make acting as visual as your paintings and vice versa?

Y: I do what I can at any given moment and don’t plan on visuality or anything else. I do it to heal my soul, and at the same time to make things that would hopefully astound the audiences, and give them huge pleasure, plus a realization about the world. I do all this feeling I am making people see something they never saw before. I am believing as I work, that I’m changing the world.

To find more about Yoram”s various artistic projects you can visit here. Or at his Facebook page.