Sculptures of murdered artist to be displayed
Friends of murdered sculpture artist Dima Dihana gather in Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Square, plan exhibition of his glass art
Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv turned into a one-day memorial last week, honoring artist Dmitry Dihana, 50, who was murdered earlier this month. The artist's many friends covered the square with flowers and candles, and presented his glass sculptures in the nearby abandoned house he lived in.
One of Dima's closest friends said he was a good hearted man and a reliable friend in time of need to the square's residents. "He was a talented artist who made beautiful glass sculptures. We will miss him very much. Here in the square we are all one big alternative family," he added.
Dima's friends are planning to cooperate with Dihana's family to exhibit his life's work in a gallery. After the exhibition, the art will be distributed among friends, and anyone who will desire it, with the purpose of making sure it will not be thrown away and forgotten.
Alternative Family (Photo: Moti Kimchi)
"Dima didn't care about money, so we don’t want to sell his art for high prices. We only want to make sure that his art keeps on living," explained the friend.
For many of the homeless of Dizengoff Square, Dima was an older uncle-like figure. "Dima would take care of us even when he didn't have much for himself," said another friend. "He used to come to the square and bring us a casserole he cooked us from leftovers he picked at the market. For us these were fancy meals."
The investigation has revealed that the killer and the victim began a violent altercation because the victim suspected that the killer had broken a piece of his glass artwork. Two other suspects have been arrested in connection with the man's death.
