These non-objective abstract paintings focus on surface as an extension of Lahav's work recently shown at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum CT. Lahav counts the number of times they approach the canvas, referring to these as "touches." Each work in this series has 18 touches.
Despite the buildup of paint, the surface remains flat, lending a luminous quality to the works. This painting style references iconic artists Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman, relying on "flat" painting where texture is minimized, emphasizing that every mark on the canvas carries significant weight.
Lahav also draws inspiration from traditional Middle Eastern craft techniques, such as Moroccan Tadelakt, where layers of colored plaster are built up to create a sense of luminosity.
Beyond the concept of flat painting, these works carry deeper conceptual meaning. In Jewish tradition, numbers hold spiritual significance, and the number 18 represents "chai," meaning "life," with profound connotations. After completing the paintings, Lahav gilds each work with a gold leaf line, reminiscent of a broken line. This concept is inspired by the tradition of Kintsugi pottery, where broken vessels are repaired with golden lines.
In an art historical context, the broken gold line plays a formalist role, evoking Barnett Newman's "Zip" paintings. Yet it also holds deeply personal significance for the artist. The golden broken lines serve as meditations on healing and finding beauty in division.
