Oh Superman By Iddo Markus

I wanted for months to publish this and never got the time. Iddo Markus is one of my favorite Israeli working artists. He depicts humans and human interactions in their most natural and relatable form. His paintings are usually colorful, expressive, diving into themes like identity and personal stories. You can immediately observe how his work blends abstract and figurative styles, creating pieces that feel both relatable and thought-provoking.

Back in the summer, I attended Fresh Paint, an art and design fair held in Tel Aviv, and encountered Iddo's latest special project named Oh Superman. There were so many layers of deep meaning in this project, and I am sure each observer had their own interpretation. For me, after the intense and chaotic year in Israel, it was particularly striking to see how Iddo took the idea of a superhero—someone we all aspire to be at times, whether for our kids, siblings, parents, or friends—and stripped it down to its essence: a regular human being. This transformation was both grounding and powerful. Iddo created hundreds of these paintings, filling the space with them, making it impossible to look away. You couldn’t help but absorb and accept them without resistance.

I uploaded some of the pics I took from the fair and added some others to zoom on some of the pieces

This is the official text for this project:
 

Oh Superman, oil on wood, 2020-2024
In his exploration of contemporary Israel, Ido Marcus has created hundreds of paintings depicting the iconic image of Superman, reiterated to the point of reduction and abstraction. Instead of a celestial superbeing, these Supermen begin to resemble humanity - crumpled, crumbling, yearning for a helping hand. The installation sprawls across eight meters in a deceptive display of strength, but the popular figures contained within are helpless to offer any kind of salvation.

https://catalog.freshpaint.co.il/en/artist/iddo-markus-en/