Legendary Hebrew designer Ron Arad created a work of art incorporating diamonds by renowned Steinmetz. The piece he created and was presented last night during 55th Venice Biennale is about the strenght of the raw material rather than as a symbol of value and adornment, about the way diamonds have often been. Arad’s Last Train is an emotive an powerful image in motion. Watching a cast of Arad’s fist, armed with an Arad designed striking Steinmetz diamond ring, poking through a black cloth, scratching glowing lines onto the glass pane, is a fascinating mysterious performance. One can’t help but imagine the person hiding behind the cloth. It wasn’t enough for Arad to be the only artist, he also wanted to watch; Arad invited a number of other artists to take the role, including, to date, Francesco Clemente, Anthony Gormley, Christian Marclay, David Shrigley, Cornelia Parker, Richard Wilson, Robert Wilson, Sara Fanelli, Sue Webster and Tim Noble, Leandro Erlich and Gavin Turk.

Ron Arad

Last night, Ron Arad and Javier Mariscal drew live during the press preview. Ai Wewei also scratched remotely from Beijing. Each artist creates their work on an iPad, using the Last Train specially developed app, the Last Train echoes their every stroke, scratching their image onto the glass!