According to the Tanakh, Absalom or Avshalom (Hebrew: אַבְשָלוֹם, "Father in/of Peace") was the third son of David, King of Israel with Maachah, daughter of Talmai, King of Geshur.
We strongly believe that Avshalom embodies the essence of what Art has to suggest. So, Avshalom is an Artwork himself, and 3,000 years ago did in Israel and Judah what Art should still do in both the world and the individuals.
. Avshalom is BEAUTY
In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him. Whenever he cut the hair of his head—he used to cut his hair once a year because it became too heavy for him - he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels by the royal standard. (2 Samuel 14:25-26)
. Avshalom is JUSTICE
He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.” And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.” Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel (2 Samuel 15:2-6)
. Avshalom is REBELLION and WAR against the Father/King
David’s army marched out of the city to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. There Israel’s troops were routed by David’s men, and the casualties that day were great—twenty thousand men... Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men (2 Samuel 18:6-9)
. Avshalom is SUFFERING, DEATH and MEMORY
Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this for you.” So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him. Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and the troops stopped pursuing Israel, for Joab halted them. They took Absalom, threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled up a large heap of rocks over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled to their homes. During his lifetime Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it in the King’s Valley as a monument to himself, for he thought, “I have no son to carry on the memory of my name.” He named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day (2 Samuel 18:14-18)
