My few minutes with Tim Hetherington

Yesterday I was going trough a pile of business cards that I had collected trough the last few months in order to use them for inviting people to my next opening in May 5. Nothing exceptional till I hit a specific card. It was a card that Tim Hetherington had given me sometime in October.  

I had met him during a private screening for his movie “Restrepo”. Patricia Duff , the founder and soul of the “Common Good” had invited him and Sebastian Junger to discuss the movie that they directed and produced.

It was an animated questions and answers  forum with fascinating questions, a hallmark of the Common Good. It was one of these evening that you will never forget, sitting in the darkness of a movie hall. You were suddenly projected into the life of an American platoon in the worlds most dangerous and beautiful landscape somewhere in Afghanistan in the midst of Taliban land. This documentary was breathing life and death as if it was your daily environment, urban citizens of the world.

For over an hour , I thought, I was with them the platoon , in Afghanistan , living with them , in defense of democracy, thousand of miles away .These young , brave American soldiers , with a unique temper and a soul , that sometime will make you cry , as you confront with them their mission somewhere in a place call hell ,the Korengal Valley, also know as "The Valley of Death.”

So in looking at his card, it reminded the few minutes , we had conversed on Afghanistan and its future. It was so informative. He was a kind and humble man and you could sense , his passion. I assume, he must has been a fun guy to have as a friend. Knowing he was living here in Williamsburg near my own studio, I had intended to sent him an invitation, unfortunately , the horrible news of his death in Libya  this week are a reminder that courage of a photo journalist sometimes also ends in a tragic way. 

For me this encounter was now another symbol of why in the world there are people like Tim and then the rest of us.

http://www.thecommongoodusa.com

Did you say God ?

My famous father always repeats this phrase “ Man was created at the image of God”; imagine being a child hearing that quite often. In my little mind, my dad was the strongest image not God, I did not even comprehend what is a God and why would I even think about a subject so obscure and almost ethereal.

Then slowly with time and some “schooling”, a more developed mind started to develop a narrative and configure a strategy that will enable me to become an "artist". As a child, I used to spend time every weekend drawing and creating, sitting next  to my father on a table that seemed as long as a railroad track. I was fascinated by this man who would spend hours and days of his life drawing squares and circles and triangles in almost all the colors of the rainbow. In his atelier , there was like a monastic silence, it was a temple for Art.

My mother would send me to my dad “atelier” so that she could have some rest from a very turbulent child and perhaps also wishing that I learn something helpful in my life. I am laughing now that I entered this very fascinating period of my life. I wish she could have been here today and see where I am in my life.

I was 4 or five. He will give me some paper and colors, and here I was becoming an artist. I would spend hours drawing and scribbling not realizing the privilege that I had to be seated next to “God”. I was doing my “gribouillage” with an intensity and passion that was truly unique. No one could stop me except when I had no more paper to draw.

My “artworks” were hanged and plastered all over his studio, a sign of a certain achievement, being a little boy, I could not be prouder.

One day a famous collector arrived to his studio and while opening the door, he saw some works, taped on a wall. Immediately, he looked at my father, and told him:" Agam, I love your new works, these drawing are really great." Needless to say, I repeated this story to every one who had ears to listen to me. I was so proud.  

I remember playing with Calder at his place in Sachet, he was older than my dad by many years, his stature was to me very impressive, he was very gregarious and friendly and with big smiles. After the visit to his place, I started to paint big red and yellow circles. 

Later on I learned that my father studio was also Paul Gauguin atelier for a period of his life. If I had known that as a child perhaps my art teacher would have given me an A+ instead of just an A.
And yes man was created at the image of God, we do not imitate, we are gifted to create and invent.  At 53, I finally found my childhood again.

Ron Agam in ELLE DECO magazine May Edition with Robert Couturier

In the new edition of ELLE DECO, May edition, the important design and architecture magazine, famed international interior designer Robert Couturier appears on the cover of the Magazine with an important story on him .
Robert has been involved in some of the most glamorous and expansive architectural projects in the world from 40 million dollar residences in NYC to palaces in Mexico , castles in Scotland and France to ranches in Aspen.
Robert Couturier who has been a great admirer and supporter of my work has allowed the magazine to photograph his magnificent apartment in New York , Soho district. In these photos you can see two monumental eight feet by eight feet works of Ron Agam that depicts flowers.   If you buy ELLE DÉCOR you will see more of the work and article that proudly display , the name of the artist as well .
I cannot be more honored to have been chosen by Robert Couturier for these two great works that are hanging in his living room.

 The Ron Agam artwork in Robert Couturier residence