• Combinations of concepts from Rauschenberg, Caravaggio and Eastern Orthodox icon painting confront one in a wall-size altar piece by Russian-trained Alexander Okun. Constructed like a revolving stage set on three levels, Okun implants realistically painted figures, collage materials, found objects and esoteric symbolic objects in a sweeping narrative. Behind it all there seems to be an interaction of saints and sinners, of the fortunate and unfortunate, of hope and despair. ...Okun's major pictorial thrust is a self contained, all4nclusive European ghetto, a vivid world full of the parables, fables and legends immortalized by the likes of Shalom Aleichem and Bashevis Singer. His inclusive "inside-outside" shtetl although obscure in respect to many images is manageable, compared to a second, enigmatic Baroque niche full of contorted figures, hazy gargoyles and several wooden planks fanning out in front of the painting. Marvellously conceived food paintings are also on view.
  Gil Goldfine, "Jerusalem Post"
  
• This exhibition reflects a transcendental dimension by way of contradiction and the grotesque... The artist hovers between the fields of sculpture, painting, theatre design and decoration, traditional themes and existential messages of today-and all accomplished with a light smile of wisdom...
  Dorit Kedar, "Al-Ha'mishmar"
  
• Okun's mastery of brush and pencil, together with his three-dimensional structures and creative ideas are absolutely amazing. It is a long time since we have seen in Tel-Aviv art galleries such a high level of artistic ability. Okun proves his mastery of all tools and modes of artistic expression in manner which stimulates the senses as much as the intellect..
  His Blerental, "Globus"
  

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