Einat Mogald

Einat Moglad is a contemporary Israeli artist, art initiator, lecturer, and art therapists. Einat is a graduate of the Thelma Yellin high school for the arts. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Education (cum laude) from Hamidrasha Beit-Berl College for the fine Arts in 2011. She holds a Master’s degree in Art Therapy from the Haifa University. Einat has showcased her work in exhibitions and galleries locally and abroad.

1) What or who inspired you to want to be an artist?
Art has been a big part of my life for many years. I can think of many people who have inspired me, who created art or encouraged me to do so–for instance, my parents and teachers. But the most significant part in my relationship with art was when I was young and experienced a severe trauma in my life. I was unable to do almost anything, and I was sad most of the time. The only thing that I was able to do and which gave me joy was creating art. During that period, I realized how big an impact art had in my life. In coping with the traumatic event, art was by my side. Following this experience, art and creativity became a big part of the life to which I now dedicate myself. As I grew up, there were various artists along the way who were inspiring to me. As a professional artist, I have the great fortune of having many friends who are dedicated to art as well, with whom I am able to think and reflect on the process and on art itself. I find that to be part of this environment and to meet such wonderful people is a daily inspiration as I continue my journey.

2) What was your creative journey that has brought you to where you are in your career today?
I have always been creating art, ever since I was a little girl. I decided to study art at the Thelma Yellin high school for the arts. At school, I came to look at art seriously and not just as a hobby. I loved learning about artists and the history of art. I especially loved the different workshops at school. Similarly to many other Israelis, after serving in the army I volunteered in a kibbutz for a year. It gave me some time to think about what I felt was the role of art in my life. Was there anything else I wanted to do? My work in the military and in the kibbutz was related to helping resolve social problems in economically challenged periphery regions, and I learned a lot and gained experience in the field. I was happy that I was able to contribute and help at that young age. That experience left me with a heightened awareness of social injustice. I couldn’t have expected the great impact this year would have on me until later on in life, as I was seeking ways to combine my passion for art with the passion for helping others.

Soon after my military service, I felt that I had to go back to creating art. I figured out that whatever it was I’d chosen to do later in life, art would be a big part of it. I enrolled to Hamidrasha College for Arts and Education to be able to pursue my love for the arts on a higher level. Following that period, I decided to specialize in art therapy. I continued with my art projects as well and that’s when I began to come up with my project “Scribble it Down.”

“Scribble it Down” is also inspired by my high school experience, especially the musicians and actors at school. I remember how they worked together and shared their inspiration. This experience encouraged me to think about a way for visual artists to also have an environment in which to create a similar experience of making art together. This project is about different artists around the world getting together via a digital medium. It has already won several grants and awards, establishing itself as an annual project to which are attached many talented artists.

3) What do you need as an artist today?
Today I find that my needs are much more spiritual in nature than physical. I need feedback and inspiration from people and communities, and to be engaged in meaningful discussions. These elements are important to me because they allow me to make contact with other artists and people who appreciate art. I’m in constant search for people who are interested in discussing art, cooperating together in different ways, people who inspire one another and take art in new directions. I believe that art today is a global community. Today one cannot think of a singular central place for artists like Paris was in the 1920’s and New York was in the 1950’s. Things are happening all over the world simultaneously. I think that today, organizations, foundations and communities have a much more critical role, at least for me as an artist. These institutions can encourage and achieve open dialogues, connection between different people, and effective cultural exchanges. I believe that these are important spiritual elements that I need in making my art.

4) What creative project are you working on now?
Today I am focusing the project I mentioned “Scribble it Down.” During this collaborative process, each artist hands his work to the next artist to work on, and so all of the artists in the group contribute something to the original piece. The artists participating in the project are from all around the world and share their different cultures and points of views. The artists being from different parts of the world is an essential part of SID since it is built as a platform that allows communication and dialog between different cultures, worldviews, narratives and beliefs regarding art and life. The project is a continuous endeavor and is conducted as an annual event. The project aims to promote tolerance and communication while allowing artists to express their inherent cultural variety.

5) Where do you see yourself and your career in 10 years?
I hope this project will spread its wings and reach many more artists. I hope to be able to evolve this project into a community of creators, and that it will serve as a bridge and a true platform for art and communication. I’d also like to translate it beyond the digital medium and to bring artists physically together to create more substantial relationships based on their love for art. I hope that in the next ten years, there will be more artists who join my effort to make the world a better place and help create unique art that is based on dialogues between different worldviews.

6) What does it mean to you to be an Israeli artist?
To be an Israeli is first of all to live in a country where there are many different cultures. Israel is a place where East meets West in a giant melting pot. This variety is a big inspiration to me and an important part of being an Israeli artist. I find that being an Israeli artist also puts me in a political position whether I want to or not. I need to be very aware, responsible and involved in the social and political aspects of my work. I think that it is hard to create art that is strictly for aesthetic purposes. Israeli art always exists in a very political context. Due to this aspect of Israeli art, I find that I strive to take action and create art that allows aesthetics, diversity and social aspects to influence the creative process.

7) What does it mean to you to have an organization like the America-Israel Cultural Foundation supporting Israeli culture in the past 75 years?
As stated before, as a general principal, I am a big supporter of art organizations and foundations since I believe they all have an important role in promoting art and contributing to the world rather than solely for commercial gains. I think that AICF is definitely part of that group. AICF is an organization dedicated to building bridges and, in a way, helping to “translate” art that is being done in Israel to the world and vice versa. I know that Israel is a small country and known for many different things and not necessarily for its great art but that just makes the foundation’s role that much bigger. It is an important goal to expose the complexity and creativity that Israeli artists have to offer to a broader audience.