The writer and painter Prof. Avner Katz dies after dealing with an illness • 81 years old at the time of his death • Known as the person behind the design of the "Kifi" doll on "Sesame Street"
The late Avner Katz
Photo:
Moshe Shai
The writer and painter Avner Katz died at the age of 81.
Known for being behind the design of the "Kifi" doll on "Sesame Street."
The Facebook page of the archive here reads: "A sad day today. Dear painter and illustrator Avner Katz, who designed Kifi's character and starred alongside him on Sesame Street, has passed away."
Generations of children will remember him as "Avner", the owner of the mafia in the mythical children's series "Sesame Street", and he is also the one who designed the character of Kifi Ben Kifod in the Israeli edition of the program.
On the idea that the main character on Sesame Street, which is the object of the children's identification, will be played by a hedgehog, Avner Katz said in the past: "I thought it was an Israeli hedgehog, and then it occurred to me to make a hedgehog that is parallel to a hedgehog. "It was too educational. I didn't invent the name Kifi either. I even wanted to be called a lion. A hedgehog called a lion, it seemed more successful to me," he said.
Katz was born in 1939 on Kibbutz Ramat Rachel near Jerusalem.
He is a graduate of art studies at Bezalel and London.
He also lectured at the Art College in Ramat Hasharon as well as at the University of Haifa here.
Over the years, he has illustrated dozens of books, including children's books by Yehuda Atlas, and Nurit Zarchi, and children's mythology books.
His illustrations also adorned the books of Shalom Aleichem, Yitzhak Bashevis Singer and more.
In the judges' arguments when receiving the Ben Yitzhak Prize for Children's Literature, it was said of him: "Avner Katz is an original story, evokes the child's imagination and amuses. Its essence is expressed in paintings. thin".
In the days of distant records, Katz Air also recorded records, including Arik Einstein's mythological solo album "Capricorn" (1968), "Yours" Shula Chen (1969) "This is my way" Zvika Pick (1972) as well as Dori's "Lemonade" album Ben Zeev (1977).
Avner Katz taught at the University of Haifa.
Participated in dozens of solo and group exhibitions.
He previously participated in the satirical supplement "Davar Acher", which began in the newspaper "Davar" and continued in "Yedioth Ahronoth".
The illustrator and comic book artist Itzik Renant wrote about Avner Katz on his Facebook page: "Avner Katz, a wonderful illustrator and one of the greatest artists of all time."
In his eulogy, graphic designer Shimon (Jogol) Zandhaus wrote: "Avner Katz, an illustrator and great teacher. From the pillars of visual work in Israel has gone from us and we are left poorer in material and spirit."
A few months ago, one of the country's leading artists, Yair Garbuz, Katz's partner in the satirical supplement Davar Acher, said of him: "When I look at his paintings, cuts and reliefs, I think of Prague. Yes, Avner Katz is to me a poem I dreamed of in Prague. "A painter, a writer and a satirist, and all the craftsmanship is in the bow of a craftsman. He knows that humor is the sharpest thing in chisels and laughter makes sense if you yourself are the subject of the joke."
Katz left behind his wife Ayelet and three daughters.
His funeral will be held at Kibbutz Ramat Rachel tomorrow, Thursday, at 5:00 p.m.