Assume The Position : Tel Aviv's most interesting statues and public art pieces

The location: Brender Garden, Yehoshua Bin Nun St

The art: Israeli sculpture Yaacov Agam is particularly well known for his colorful works, such as the controversial fountain that once stood in Dizengoff Square, but there are also more modest steel sculptures in his repertoire. His interpretation of the Menorah is a prime example. In accordance with his fondness for optical illusions, this creation changes when one looks at it from different angles, creating a feeling of motion when circle it.

The location: Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Sha'ul HaMelech Blvd

The art: Ben-David is particularly outstanding when it comes to metal cutting, evident in this statue, which welcomes those who enter the gates of the museum plaza. The figures of the people and birds may be flat–almost two-dimensional–but the placement and the shadows they cast bring them to life and attract children (and adults) to join them and run around the concrete pedestal.

The location: Gan HaPisga, Jaffa

The art: In Israel and Tel Aviv, there are no shortage of sculptures that present stories from the Bible, but this huge stone gate towers over them all. Found on top of a hill in Jaffa overlooking the shore, on one pillar is the Binding of Isaac, on the other is the Dream of Jacob, and above is the Battle of Jericho, all cast into the cylindrical stone. This gate was created in the 70's but is reminiscent of an ancient Middle Eastern style. 

The location: 3 Esther HaMalka St

The art: It is always an exciting thing to encounter statues of Kadishman in the city. "Prometheus" and "Binding of Isaac" are the larger, more familiar (and dramatic) ones, however one cannot help but have a place in one's heart for the simple, yet charming pigeon statue that is located at the entrance to Frishman Tower–which is even simpler and much less charming.

The location: Edith Wolfson Park

The art: The magnificent white complex in the southeast part of the city is a tribute to the beginnings of Tel Aviv, and also Karavan's father, who for years was the city's chief gardener. The location, which enables observation of Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan, is only part of the magic; the true magic lies in the combination of geometric shapes–made of white concrete, surrounded by vegetation and running water.

The location: Tel Aviv University

The art: Apparently, Tel Aviv University went for a policy of one sculpture per five students, and the most popular of them is Tumarkin's huge sculpture on the big green space between the Mexico building and the Faculty of Management. This monument works as a piece of art / shadow caster for the Film Department students. It creates the perfect dramatic effect as students eagerly enter campus for the first time, while it is also light enough to console those same students when they fail their first exam.

The location: Independence Park

The art: With the naked eye, one might suspect for the briefest of moments that the two human figures–named after two generations of the Kings of Judah–are not statues, but actually people who remained in one place long enough to become part of their surroundings. We've come across real humans in the city who show less humanity and emotion than this pair of stone statues, who always look at the horizon despite lacking facial features.

The location: Park HaYarkon

The art: As its name indicates, Danziger's sculpture is a concrete snake in the middle of Park HaYarkon...or rather, a winding wall that looks different from different angles at different times of day. Danziger's "Serpentine" reaches three meters, rising and falling, turning left and right, as it plays with shadow and light. This classic and beloved local sculpture reminds us that a public sculpture is supposed to play with its surroundings, not just sunbathe.

The location: 15 Trumpeldor

The art: Let's face it, Trumpeldor is a pretty deprived street when it comes to aesthetics, with a cemetery in the middle of it, and the depressing Ben Yehuda around the corner. But the grayish old-fashioned building on the corner of these streets offers something other than an ATM: this emboss from 1975. The story behind it is mediocre and as (non-)glamorous as the location–the sculptress was hired to hide the air vents on the wall, but what's more urban than that really?