Itongadol.- When the Fire and Water Fountain in Tel Aviv was installed in 1986, residents hailed the kinetic sculpture for its technology and artistic character. Israeli artist Yaacov Agam agreed to donate his work to the city and it was considered a great accomplishment to have it erected in Tel Aviv.
Located in the center of Dizengoff Square — often referred to as the Times Square of Tel Aviv — Agam\’s fountain quickly turned into a landmark. Everyone who strolled through the square stopped to watch the water shoot upwards, the fire spitting in the air and music playing in synchronization.
“The fire and water together in the sculpture recreates the dynamic elements of time and change,” artist Ron Agam, Yaacov’s son, once explained. “The most important element of this artwork is its celebration of life, the most constant thing in life is change and everything is always in movement.”
But as the years rolled by the sculpture lost its luster. The fountain-sculpture, today known as Dizengoff Square Fountain, creaked to a halt. The water didn\’t shoot up, the fire had long gone out, and no music could be heard. Pigeons defecated on it, people sprayed graffiti on all sides, rust appeared, and it turned into one of the city\’s greatest eyesores.
Agam complained to the Tel Aviv municipality about the state of his sculpture and after a prolonged battle, won the legal clash to have it restored to its original beauty.
Today, Tzlilit Ben Navat, director of the Arts Department in the municipality, says people stop to look at this gigantic public art piece once again. "Tourists like it. It\’s located in a central location in terms of foot traffic," she says.