1968 – Monument to the Negev Brigade, Dani Karavan

This concrete work in Be’er Sheva is probably Dani Karavan’s (1930-2021) first environmental sculpture, creating a space of memory that must be walked through to be appreciated. Elements of the work symbolize different stages of the battles fought to preserve control of that place. Text from the diary of the commander of the outpost is etched on a leaning wall; a small, lighted chamber under a split dome commemorates those who fell in battle. The tower whistles in the desert wind and, along with the rough concrete, gives expression to the harshness of the desert and the difficulty of its defense. (Image by Nir Tober, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)