itay ohaly etches onto black walls to reveal colored memories

itay ohaly etches onto black walls to reveal colored memories
images by itay ohaly and benny gam zo letova, holon design week 2014 / courtesy of itay ohaly

two distinct installations by israeli designer itay ohaly fill the walls at the design museum holon, speaking to the nostalgia of childhood toys. ‘colored memories’ inhabits two rooms, completely concealed in a layer of black paint, mimicking the color etching and scratchboard art played with by kids. ‘we filled a piece of paper with random and colorful doodles, covered it all with black and then etched on it to make a drawing.’ ohaly describes of the youthful pastime as ‘a creative process which causes a sensation of surprise, discovery and magic, the same elements which characterize our experiences of childhood creations.’

one of the installation rooms allows museum visitors to etch onto the walls

ohaly explores this technique in two spaces, creating two diverse experiences. the first space, painted in all-black, invites the museum visitors to participate and etch on it freely. adults and children alike are asked to scratch the walls. revealing the vibrant color beneath. the second space is the artist’s own interpretation, autonomously planned and carefully etched using a CNC machine. the project binds together a playful, analog world with a professional, adult one, while stretching the boundaries of the color etching technique with the use of digital technologies. the project was made with the support of FABLAB israel and tambour.

a result of the interactive installation room

the second room has been etched with a CNC machine

carefully calculated works scratched into the surface of the walls

colorful patterns fill the space

famous artworks are reinterpreted in the etched medium

designs scratched into the panels are made with a CNC mill

the installation room, before etching

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