Artist's Memorial Wall Filled With Names of Oct. 7 Victims
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Artist Chami created a memorial wall in Ashkelon's marina, filling it with the names of October 7th massacre victims depicted as red anemones. The project, funded and executed by Chami, gained widespread attention after a video of its creation went viral. The wall is now full, with Chami planning to add more anemones to accommodate the remaining names. He is also involved in other memorial art projects across southern Israel.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Artist Chami created a memorial wall in Ashkelon's marina filled with names of October 7th victims depicted as red anemones.
- The wall is now completely full, with nearly a hundred additional names awaiting inclusion.
- A video of the memorial's creation went viral, receiving over 430,000 views and numerous requests from families.
- Chami personally funded the project and is undertaking other memorial art initiatives in southern Israel.
- The artwork incorporates symbols of hope and resilience, representing continuity after tragedy.
An Ashkelon-based artist, known only as Chami, has created a large memorial wall in Ashkelon's marina, featuring red anemones, each containing the name of a victim of the October 7th Hamas massacre. The project, which began after Chami, a 30-year-old graffiti artist, was deeply affected by the events and the loss of familiar places like the Be'eri Forest, aims to honor the fallen.
Chami, who has been using spray paint since age 11, initially conceived the idea with his partner, Bar. They decided on the anemone motif, symbolizing remembrance, and chose a wall in the marina. Chami personally funded the project with approximately ₪1,500-₪2,000 for paints and supplies, working on it voluntarily over three days. The process of writing the names was emotionally taxing, especially for Bar, who was overwhelmed by the sheer number of names.
One particularly moving moment occurred when a man approached, asking if his son, Shahar Krief, was on the wall. Upon seeing his son's name within an anemone, he became choked up, sharing, "This is my son." The video documenting the creation of the wall went viral, garnering over 430,000 views and thousands of comments, leading to an overwhelming number of requests from bereaved families.
Chami noted that the wall is now completely filled, with nearly a hundred more names on his waiting list. He plans to add another large anemone to include everyone, stating, "It's heartbreaking that the entire wall is full, and yet so many names are still missing." He also incorporated elements of hope into the artwork, with blue skies and budding stems symbolizing continuity and resilience.
Beyond the marina wall, Chami is involved in other memorial projects, including painting a bomb shelter in memory of Captain David Hazut and another for police officer Sharon Rachmani, who fought at the Nova festival. He also transformed a bomb shelter in an Ashkelon playground into a vibrant "gaming room" in memory of soldier Marom Golan, turning a place of fear into a space filled with life and joy for children.