Americana, Yigal Ozeri’s latest series, features a novel subject matter for the artist. He has chosen to focus on the diner as an American icon; an institution that has its image engraved into the fabric of American life. Ozeri aesthetically captures the most appealing retro - elements from furniture to lighting. The chrome accessories reflect pops of neon and bold lines of vibrant colors. Vintage an- tique memorabilia make their way into the compositions adding a charming nostalgia of yesteryear.
Many cultural artifacts fall within the definition of Ameri- cana; some are just faded notions, typically associa- ted with quintessential elements of American culture. Symbols such as Route 66, Coca-Cola, Levi’s jeans, and apple pie, to name a few – all have the ‘Ameri- can charm’ that we visualize when thinking of the word. Today the diner occupies its rightful place in the Ameri- can backcountry, leaving its mark for generations to come.
The diner has always been a sanctuary, a space that is both public yet personal. It positions itself somewhere between a home and a restaurant; a step-up in the social ladder. It provided respectability for the working class, a sought-after ‘hangout’ for high school kids, an affordable eating experience for families. The diner was a refreshing oddity loosening up social boundaries in a time where eating out was a privilege of the elite.
As an added component to the classic undertone of his paintings, in this series Ozeri includes contemporary details that will be forever etched in our collective psyche, making it timeless and time specific simultane- ously. There are subtle nuances of COVID-19 implications from a waitress wearing a face covering, to a thermome- ter check in the entrance, to a “barely there” sign in the window requiring patrons to wear masks. Ozeri juxtaposi-
tions the new with the old making this series multifaceted and complex. He remains true to his painting approach combining sharp detailed brushstrokes with abstract con- stituents. Illuminated by visceral imagery of retrospective architecture and interiors, his paintings come to life cap- turing the space between the physical and the abstract.
This series represents more than the obvious symbolism behind it, on many levels it embodies the American Dream. As the great James Truslow Adams states: “The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, the set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, as well as an upward social mobility for the family and children, achieved through hard work in a society with few barriers.” Ozeri comes full circle here, as he too has immigrated to New York with his family in 1991 hoping to achieve just that.
Americana elaborates on the themes of past and present in American symbolism and explores the concept of the American Dream now. The series al- lows the artist to continue his exploration of identi- ty and intimacy within a cultural shifting background.
