(Live) – In April 2025, in a violent act of vandalism, the public art work was destroyed by unknown persons. LOOK AT ME By artist and curator Blue Simeon Fainero – a sculpture that was placed in the summer of 2022 on Yaffe Nof Street in Haifa and quickly became one of the symbols of the urban space. A place of light and hope, which stopped passersby for a moment of renewed observation of routine, of both an internal and external gaze.
Now, upon receiving the Israel Prize for Art and Design for 2025, the Haifa Municipality chooses to return the work to its place and restore it – not only as a gesture of respect for Fainero, but also as a strong statement against violence against culture, art, and the public space.
"This is a work that seeks to pause for a moment, to illuminate the routine and to offer compassion," the artist said after the act of destruction. "The damage to it is painful, but the restoration of the statue is, in my opinion, an important statement about what is worth fighting for – and about the power of art to exist, even when attempts are made to dismantle and destroy."
Born in Romania and immigrating to Israel as a child, Blue Simeon Fainero lives and works in Haifa. His work spans a wide range of mediums – from sculpture and large-scale installations, through video and drawing, to community art. Over the years, he has exhibited in leading galleries and museums in Israel and around the world, represented Israel in international biennials, and worked to integrate art into education and society.
On the 77th Independence Day of the State of Israel, the Israel Prize ceremony was held, in which Fainero was awarded the prestigious award for his many years of contribution to culture and art. The ceremony, held at the Nation Buildings in Jerusalem, was a particularly moving occasion. President Yitzhak Herzog and his wife Michal spoke with the artist personally and invited him to visit the President's Residence - where the President asked the artist to create a unique work. At the same time, Dr. Miriam Adelson invited Fainero to exhibit his work in the United States - a significant opening to international audiences.
“This is a moment of recognition, but also of commitment,” said Fainero in his speech at the ceremony. “This award is a call to continue – to ask, to create, and to influence culture, education and society. Art is not a luxury – it is a way of life, it is a responsibility.”
Among the dignitaries at the ceremony were Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav and his wife, who came to pay tribute to their city's artist and strengthen the connection between the city and one of its central creators. Yahav stated that the restoration of the statue is just the beginning of a broader move to strengthen art in Haifa's public space.
Fainro's work is distinguished by a rare combination of philosophical fairness, spiritual depth, and aesthetic sensitivity. It stems from a deep Jewish-humanist cultural charge, and moves in the field between Jewish thought, existential philosophy, and contemporary art practices. For Fainro, texts are not only sources of inspiration, but raw material for the creation of a "visual text" - one that requires slow reading, deep contemplation, and openness to dialogue.
“I don’t believe in art for art’s sake,” he declares. “I believe in art that has a function – especially in this time. We need art that unites.” From this worldview, Fainero acts as an artist-messenger – one who sees his art as a tool for change, healing and social reform. Over the years, he has initiated non-institutional, community and educational projects – out of a belief in the power of image, language and joint action to build bridges between communities, cultures and generations.
Fainro's works are the product of a journey – personal, cultural and social. They transcend the boundaries of time and place, and touch on questions of identity, belonging, memory and future. The art he creates appeals to the heart, the mind and the spirit – and seeks to create the possibility of a shared life, full of compassion, listening and meaning.
the statue LOOK AT ME, which has become a symbol and a focus of social discourse and awareness, will soon return to its place on Yaffe Nof Street – restored, strengthened, and full of new life. Haifa will mark its return with a ceremony open to the general public, which will celebrate not just one work of art, but the entire spirit that seeks to maintain beauty even in the face of destruction.
Although I have not lived in Haifa for over a decade, I am happy about the restoration and return of the meaningful sculpture by the great artist Blue Fainero, and on this occasion, my congratulations to Blue for receiving the Israel Prize in the field of interdisciplinary design and art.