Gay Israeli Artists Seek Arabs for Love

Gay Israeli artists seek Arabs to fall in love with (Reuters)

Two gay Israeli men have installed a huge double bed in a New York art gallery and are inviting Arab men to become their “lover” as part of an exhibition called “Sleeping with the Enemy.” But the artists who like to be known simply as Gil and Moti talk about the project in romantic terms, saying it’s about “falling in love” rather than sex. Gil said visitors should not come to the show expecting to see pornography. “The bed is there for us to live in. Artistically there are three pillows to symbolize unity of three people which goes along with the whole concept of make love not war,” he said. “We try to actually open up a dialogue and debate which is about more important issues than just sexual matters and if there’s sex, OK, but it’s not something we’re interested in discussing,” Gil said.

The sales pitch for the show in which the two live and work in the gallery surrounded by their art reads: “Israeli artists Gil and Moti are gay, married and in love. For 5 weeks, they court an Arab lover.”

Since late 2002 they have made contact online with as many as 300 Arab men from across the Middle East. They typically send a message through a dating site asking if they can paint a picture from the man’s photo and explaining who they are. They then scan and e-mail the painting as a means of “seduction” and hopefully start a dialogue and meet, Gil said.

Somehow, I don’t see this working.

• None Found