Space: Omer Ittah

The generic elements of architectural spaces seem silent and mute, striving to reflect the events around them through the linguistic expressions assigned to them: doors, ceilings, floors, and so on. However, the spaces they create transform from the signs and lines initially sketched on a blank page into a narrative environment, a living text articulated by its users, with its beginning and end shaped by their words.

The dual meaning of the term "space" is central to the exhibition. In Hebrew, "halal" signifies both "space" and the "void" left by someone who has passed away . The exhibited works are a site-adapted modification by Omer Ittah, a graduate of the Technion architecture faculty who tragically lost his brother, Captain Harel Ittah, during his final year of study. This profound loss inspired Omer to focus his research on personal mapping, a practice he employs to cope with and explore the emptiness that emerged in his life following his brother's death.

In the exhibition, Ittah explores the layers of physical space laden with significant personal memories, observing this mute space through his brother’s voice and story. This examination focuses on the places his brother spent time in before his death: the childhood home, Kibbutz Nahal Oz, Khan Yunis, and Soroka Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. The works highlight the contrast between the seemingly random nature of these locations and the profound significance they acquire following his brother's death. For Ittah, this connection transforms architectural elements from universal and generic into integral parts of a personal narrative. He invites visitors to engage with these spaces—looking through windows, entering through doors, and peering into areas filled with memories and emotional depth.

Curatorial guidance: Shira Levy Benyemini
Production assistant: Talia Horowitz
Installation: Omer Ittah, Liav Levy
Graphic design: Alex Tal Usher

Supervision of Final Project at the Technion
Academic supervision: Arch. Gabi Schwartz and Dr. Dikla Yizhar
Curatorial advisor: Dr. Yonni Avidan

In memory of Captain Harel Ittah, the artist’s brother