Dizengoff Fountain

The “Fire and Water Fountain”, commonly referred to as “Dizengoff Square Fountain”, is a Tel Avivian landmark in the center of Dizengoff Square. Dedicated in 1986, the fountain is a kinetic sculpture and the work of the Israeli artist, Yaacov Agam. Agam developed this fountain over a period of ten years and it is one of his most renowned creations. He has gained international recognition as one of the founders of the kinetic art movement. The fountain consists of an illusory and a movement dimension. These are both typically works of Kinetic and Op art, which is achieved by the use of technology and the observer’s movement. The fountain is composed of several big jagged wheels, which were designed in the kinetic style (colored geometric shapes, which are perceived as different images from different angles). A technological mechanism is automatically activated at different times of the day and the night, turning the wheels on their hinges, injecting water upwards in various forms, spitting fire upwards, while playing music. Throughout the years the fountain drew a lot of criticism from the Tel Aviv residents for the high cost of its ongoing maintenance. Until recently, the fountain was poorly maintained and occasionally stopped operating. However, the fountain was recently repainted and is a large social landmark known by all Tel Avivians.

Photo Attributions: Ted Eytan, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Ori lubin, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Rubinstein Felix,, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons