The Israeli artist Eran Shakine (*1962) gives every one of his paintings the same title: “A Muslim, a Christian and a Jew…” – almost as if he were about to tell a joke. In his large-scale works, he humorously explores the question of similarities and differences among the three monotheistic world religions. The headline of a (fictional) illustrated Time Magazine cover proclaims: “Mother gives birth to identical triplets: a Muslim, a Christian and a Jew.” The three gentlemen, usually dressed in top hats and black suits, wander through the world: searching for common origins, God’s love, or a dialogue with Moses, they experience various everyday and quirky situations. As carefree as the drawings appear, their message is serious: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism share a common history despite their different interpretations of scripture. Their wishes, dreams, and hopes ultimately lie very close together. Shakine’s oil pastel works are, so to speak, anti-cartoons: they break with stereotypes and direct attention to what unites us – humanity, curiosity, doubt, hope, and faith. His works are easily accessible yet full of philosophical depth. With subtle humor and poetic clarity, Shakine
