FACING THE SEA

By Daniel Tchetchik In collaboration with HaGal Sheli (My Wave)
November 18, 2025 - January 31, 2026
ZAZ10TS Gallery, 10 TIMES SQUARE

Facing the Sea is Daniel Tchetchik’s newest body of work, created in collaboration with the Israeli organization HaGal Sheli (My Wave). The exhibition features portraits of individuals directly affected by October 7, each photographed against the infinite horizon of the sea. Through these intimate encounters, Tchetchik invites viewers to journey from the changing shoreline to the fragile interior landscape of the human spirit. Together, these portraits form a collective image of endurance—a quiet island of strength where the human spirit confronts the tide and the sea becomes a space for reflection, survival, and rebirth.

For more than two decades, the sea has been a central motif in Tchetchik’s practice, serving as a metaphor for both external natural forces and inner human emotion. Its ever-changing nature—wild or calm, peaceful or perilous—reflects the volatility and vulnerability of the human psyche.

This body of work extends far beyond the documentation of current crises, delving into realms of metaphorical and poetic representation. In doing so, he invites viewers to confront the forces—both seen and unseen—that shape our shared existence.

In Facing the Sea, the sea serves as both the starting point and the end, a threshold between despair and possibility. It is both a site of crisis and a space of existential reflection. It is where beauty and destruction coexist. It embodies loss, memory, longing, resilience, and above all, it is a place of hope—open, boundless, and alive with the possibility of renewal.

All photographed individuals are participants in My Wave’s programs, which integrate surfing as a therapeutic and educational tool for trauma survivors’ recovery. Since October 7, the organization has played a crucial role in supporting those who were affected by the war.

The exhibition displays these portraits throughout the room to create an intimate, face-to-face encounter between the individual photographed and the viewer. The individuals in the photographs are not merely objects to be observed, but powerful presences that return the viewer’s gaze. Each portrait tells a unique story, inviting different forms of connection. The sea serves as the meeting point—both literal and symbolic—a mirror reflecting our deepest fears and hopes. In this space, a silent dialogue unfolds between subject and viewer, an intimate exchange marked by despair, healing, compassion, and the shared human experience.

The title, Facing the Sea, captures both the literal act of turning toward the sea and the metaphorical gesture of confronting one’s inner storms. In doing so, it reminds us that even in times of turmoil, the horizon remains open—alive with the possibility of renewal.

Featured on ZAZ Corner’s In Between | November 6 - December 14, 2025

Alongside the exhibition Facing the Sea at the ZAZ10TS Gallery, selected portraits by Daniel Tchetchik are featured on ZAZ Corner’s In Between programming, displayed for 15 seconds every few minutes on a large LED billboard in the heart of Times Square. Presenting these portraits in a public space like Times Square amplifies the project’s emotional impact and extends its message of resilience and healing beyond the gallery walls. The visibility of this platform offers both the artist and HaGal Sheli (My Wave) an opportunity to inspire new programs that unite art, community, and hope.

Location: 41st Street and 7th Avenue, New York, NY.

About HaGal Sheli (My Wave)

HaGal Sheli (My Wave) was established with a clear purpose: to offer genuine opportunities for diverse populations to find success through transformative experiences with the sea, particularly through the sport of surfing. The organization provides educational and therapeutic programs tailored for at-risk youth, trauma survivors, and individuals with disabilities from all corners of Israeli society. Surfing, as both an adventure and a learning experience, serves as a powerful catalyst for uncovering the inherent strengths within each participant.

Learn more at hagalsheli.co.il/en and follow them on @hagalsheli

Eretz Museum

The project Facing the Sea launched its first exhibition at the Eretz Israel Museum, which opened on September 19 and runs until November 29, 2025. Conceived as an ongoing global initiative, Facing the Sea will unfold through multiple exhibitions worldwide, each reflecting local contexts while sharing a universal message of resilience and renewal. Two works were also acquired for the Eretz Israel Museum’s permanent collection.

Photos courtesy by Eretz Museum, Photographer Daniel Hanoch

Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan Artist Talk | November 20, 2025

As part of the project, we invite you to the Facing the Sea Artist Talk hosted by the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan in collaboration with HaGal Sheli (My Wave). The conversation brings together voices from the exhibition to reflect on art, resilience, and the healing power of the sea.

Join photographer Daniel Tchetchik, Yaron Waksman (Co-founder & CEO, HaGal Sheli), and Eden Shmuel (HaGal Sheli participant and Nova Festival survivor) for an evening exploring the intersection of creativity, trauma recovery, and community.

Date: November 20, 7:00 PM
Location: Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave, NYC
RSVP for the Artist Talk HERE