Ronit Baranga is an Israeli sculptor who, after earning a degree in literature and one in psychology, decides to study history of art at Tel-Aviv University. Born in the 1970s, she grew up in an era of profound changes, between economic struggles, cultural transformation and technological innovation. University studies stimulated the artist to investigate the reality around her, analyzing the complexes and structures of society, investigating its constituent layers to create a mutual exchange between them.

The passion for the art of ceramics leads her to develop a very personal language, aimed at changing the relationship between object and user. She creates a unique type of figurative art, mixing still life with elements that seem to come to life. Her works are made up of situations and characters that generate conflicting emotions in the viewer: the goal of her research is to arouse restlessness through dismembered parts of the human body placed on inanimate elements and objects. Viewers can feel attraction, sweetness and at the same time feel a feeling of threat.

Ronit Baranga’s artistic research expresses her vision of reality: the artist perceives around her a social structure made up of complex people or creatures who face contrasting situations and emotions, whose interaction creates life. In her work, the object is a communication tool and has the power to decide how and whether to be used. Beauty and dissonance are the two characteristic aspects of her art.

To understand this research, we need to analyze the tension and contrast between life and inanimate object, whose symbiosis arouses amazement and aversion. Clay is one of the materials that the artist prefers as it allows her to create any shape by combining manual modeling with the use of molds. As she herself told in an interview for Whitelies magazine: “In my opinion, clay is difficult to work with; however, once you understand it and gain control, it is an amazing material. I love everything about it; its look, smell, texture and feel – while working and when dry. I also love its ability to surprise and change during the firing, sometimes in ways I don’t expect.”

The works are created in series that influence each other, creating emotional bonds and intersections. Ronit Baranga’s art attracts and creates disturbance, so as not to allow the viewer to remain indifferent. Great curiosity and profound disorientation, this is her secret. And what sensation do you perceive looking at them?

Valeria Fortuna

Info:

Ronit Baranga. All Things Sweet and Painful
Oct 17th – Nov 8th 2020
Beinart Gallery
1 Sparta Pl,
Brunswick VIC 3056
Australia

www.ronitbaranga.com