Designer Emili Yehezkel Tackles Bullying and Violence Through Art
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Designer Emili Yehezkel is exhibiting "Excess Weight," a leather schoolbag with an embossed knife, to address childhood bullying and violence. The artwork, displayed in Ramat Hasharon until February 28, 2027, symbolizes the emotional burden children carry. Yehezkel recently took over her workshop to preserve local craftsmanship, contrasting with cheaper overseas production. The piece reflects on recent violent incidents in Israeli schools and the broader issue of bullying as a national concern.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Designer Emili Yehezkel's artwork "Excess Weight" uses a schoolbag with a knife motif to represent the burden of bullying.
- The "Excess Weight" exhibition is part of a series on childhood bullying and runs until February 28, 2027.
- Recent incidents of school violence in Israel include a student arrested with weapons and a fatal stabbing.
- Yehezkel recently took over her workshop to preserve local craftsmanship and professional knowledge.
- The designer emphasizes local production despite higher costs, valuing handmade quality.
- Yehezkel's work addresses bullying as a national problem affecting many Israeli children.
Designer Emili Yehezkel is exhibiting a new work titled "Excess Weight" at the "Father's Summer" exhibition in Ramat Hasharon, addressing the growing issues of bullying and violence among children. The exhibition, part of a series on "The Painful Experience of Childhood, Bullying," runs until February 28, 2027. Yehezkel's piece is a black leather schoolbag with a knife shape embossed on its front pocket, symbolizing the emotional burden carried by children experiencing bullying.
Yehezkel explained that the work aims to represent the unseen weight children carry daily, which can persist long after the bullying ends. "A bag is usually meant to carry things we choose to take with us, and in this work, I wanted to talk about the things we carry without choosing them," she stated. The inclusion of the knife motif also extends the work's commentary to physical violence, a stark contrast to the seemingly innocent schoolbag.
The article highlights recent incidents of violence in Israeli schools, including a 12-year-old arrested with a knife and stun gun in Tel Aviv and a fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old in Kafr Qara. Yehezkel, a mother of four, feels a responsibility as an artist to bring attention to the pervasive issue of bullying, which she describes as a national problem in Israel.
Yehezkel, who founded her brand Emili in 2006, recently took over the workshop she previously collaborated with, hiring its employees and purchasing equipment. This move aims to preserve professional knowledge and skills, which she believes are at risk of disappearing in Israel due to economic factors and a lack of vocational training. She is committed to local production despite higher costs, emphasizing her belief in handmade craftsmanship and appealing to consumers who value it.
Her brand offers various leather goods, including bags, wallets, and tefillin bags, and has attracted celebrity clients like Yehuda Levi and Aviv Alush. Yehezkel's decision to maintain local production contrasts with the trend of manufacturing abroad, particularly in China and the Palestinian territories, due to cost-effectiveness.