עברית
About
Simcha Even-Chaim
I was born in 1975 in Beer Sheva. I spent my childhood and youth there, in the capital of the Negev of the 1980s (before the fountains and tall buildings…).
There, I grew up among the broad brown expanses and probably there I also developed my fierce love of the desert which I express today in a large number of my paintings. I grew up in a warm, loving traditional but non-religious family.
I remember that ever since I was a young girl, I was involved in a relentless search for truth, constantly yearning to connect to my true roots; I was never able to accept that life was shallow or temporary—I was always asking questions.
I grew up alongside a brother who is an outstanding artist, a painter who has lived and breathed art since his childhood, and the house was full of art, a resounding inspiration within my soul from a young age. I internalized a love of art in a natural way.
When I turned 17, and my brother was 23, he chose to take his own life, leaving behind along with the deep pain of his loss a large collection of paintings he’d created. It was probably their influence on my thirsty soul which missed him so greatly that caused me, after a number of years, to desire to also begin painting. The first moment I held a brush, the paint began to flow, bursting forth like a spring of water, and to my surprise, I discovered that I was a capable painter, though I had never formally studied painting.
The great light of inspiration and creativity descended on me from above, a true gift to comfort my soul, and I felt as if it was an inheritance which was mine to bring back to life.Simcha Even-Haime
Painting became an inseparable part of my life, in which I found a healing strength, and it opened windows for me into the World of Truth. Later on, while I was still searching for meaning in life, I went out to search and research abroad (with my paints in my backpack…).
My three trips to India were a significant part of this journey which ultimately brought me nearer to my own roots and to return to Jewish religious practice. Along the way, changes took place in my artistic creation, which until that point I’d used mainly to express emotions, mostly those of pain, until I realized that I had in my hands a powerful tool to use responsibly.
I came to the understanding that I had a mighty tool which I’d received as a gift, and I had an obligation towards whoever had given it to me to use it in the right way, so that my art would elevate and illuminate with the light of joy and truth all those who looked upon it, and not just myself. The idea began flickering within me that my art needed to sanctify itself.
And thus, paintings began to emerge onto the canvas influenced by holy writings I’d been exposed to, paintings that express the connection between the individual and the Creator, and later, paintings influenced by the writings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the greatest source of light and inspiration in my life.
Today, I live with joy and tranquility with my husband and children on a quiet community in southern Israel, where I continue, like everyone else, this thrilling and infinite journey of life—still asking questions and continuing on the path… and absolutely in love with it all!