MISSILES
2014
“Rivnay’s work conflates ideas around beauty and violence into one sanctified object. Most overtly, this can be seen in his missile series, human-scaled weapons hand painted with traditional William Morris patterns as well as fragments of walls that seem to have been penetrated by such objects. The patterned interventions work on two levels: they both lure the viewer in with their sumptuous colors and details while they also terrify with their inherently violent form. Both in metal and in wood, these sculptures emasculate the missile shapes or their negatives, rendering them both impotent and desirable, conditions traditionally associated with the feminine. In addition to Arts and Crafts patterns, Rivnay has made missiles with various textiles. These are based on fabrics associated with various religious garb: from Muslim to Christian and Judaic, all sourced locally in Jerusalem.” Dr. Kathy Battista, 2014
Ground to Ground yellow nose and tail, 2014, Oil and industrial paint on metal, 70.5 x 9.5 x 9.5 inch / 179 x 24 x 24 cm
Ground to Ground green pattern, 2014, Oil and industrial paint on metal, 74 x 9.5 x 9.5 inch / 188 x 24 x 24 cm
Ground to Ground white nose and tail, 2014, Oil and industrial paint on metal, 70.5 x 9.5 x 9.5 inch / 179.5 x 24 x 24 cm
Ground to Ground black nose and tail, 2014, Oil and industrial paint on metal, 70 x 9.5 x 9.5 inch / 176.5 x 24 x 24 cm
Ground to Ground blue leaves blue nose and tail, 2014., Oil and industrial paint on metal, 75 x 9.5 x 9.5 inche/ 188.5 x 24 x 24 cm
Ground to Ground green nose and tail, 2014, Oil and industrial paint on metal, 79 x 9.5 x 9.5 inche/ 201x 24 x 24 cm
“Pink Bubbles 2013, a maquette for a large-scale public sculpture, shows a missile half submerged in the ground with garish pink bubbles surrounding it. This has a cartoon like effect: its bright colors and Pop Art-like explosion bears resemblance to forerunners such as Roy Lichtenstein. Given the context of the exhibition, though, it takes on a darker meaning. Like many of Rivnay’s Israeli colleagues—Sigilit Landau, Omer Fast, Yael Bartana—his work is beautiful in form and deals in metaphors, both on the personal and state levels. However, it would be difficult to accuse any of these artist of neoliberal obfuscation; rather, their metaphors relate directly to a contested region, and thus, a schizophrenic existence lived in personal and cultural conflict.” Dr. Kathy Battista, 2014
Pink Bubbles, 2012, Industrial Paint, car kit, and oil paint on metal, , 26 x 17 x 9 .5 inches / 66 x 43 x 24 cm
No Objective
Video, 2014, 5:03 Minutes
In the video, No Objective, Rivnay is carrying a missile sculpture around various sites in Tel Aviv. he roams about freely, unencumbered by any resistance or official intervention. Titled “No Objective,” it is a direct statement to the apathy and normalization Israelis have grown to a war-engaged reality.