Australian artist returns to Israel to paint bomb shelters to bring hope and comfort

Justin Andrew Hook came to Israel to celebrate Sukkot with friends but ended up getting drawn into a much bigger artistic adventure. After making an offhand comment about how a new bomb shelter was “crying out for some color” he ended up with permission to paint 40 of them all over Israel.

Hook has been coming to Israel since 2005, however, his latest artwork is on a whole new level, he explained.

“I was in Tiberias with friends and we walked past one of the newly installed mamad shelters and it was all cream colored, all blank, and I said, 'Hey that thing’s crying out for some color. I’d love to paint it!'” 

Coincidentally, his friend had the phone number of the mayor of Tiberias and within two minutes he was given the authorization to paint. 

Hook told ALL ISRAEL NEWS, “It all happened so quickly, within 24 hours, from having the idea to being given the invitation to paint 40 of them.”

Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Hook has Jewish blood in his family and describes himself as Messianic and a follower of Yeshua.

When asked about how he decided what to paint he said, “I didn’t really have any time to brainstorm, this was completely spontaneous and I almost made it up as I went. It was a completely artistic inspiration and just running with the first thing that came to my mind.” 

The first shelter has pastoral scenes on the outside with classic Israeli flora and fauna, a beautiful menorah inside, and a “talit” (prayer shawl) draped around the doorway.

Hook shared his 2022 art project, where he completed a mural in the community of Mesilat Zion.

“Seeing the power of public art especially when it’s done over a couple of weeks in the same space, and just the way Israelis respond to art as a culture – I find that Israelis really honor the arts whether it’s music, whether it’s painting, whether it’s some sort of a drama… I find that as a community it brings them together and they interact with the artist," he said.

“As someone doing the art, it’s an amazing experience to create something in public and then. all of a sudden. the public are involved. They’re talking to you and they’re giving you gifts, you’re formulating these different relationships and you’re seeing the response in real time as you go through the stages.”

He added, “My hope for this project, knowing that Israelis would be involved and seeing how they respond to art, was that I wanted to come to Israel and lift their spirits.”

Hook was in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israeli border communities, murdering 1,200 and abducting 251 into the Gaza Strip.

He told ALL ISRAEL NEWS, “We all suffered that terrorist attack in all its various forms. The images were bad enough, but the level of violence and trauma, and then also twisted narrative around the world. Then I went back to Australia and I could see how Israel was being falsely accused and beaten up… so I wanted to take the very thing that was a centerpiece of reminding people of war and turn it into something that completely transformed their view on their situation, to lift people’s spirits with color and light and hope. I want to remind them that this is still the "Promised Land" and remind them God is still with them, that He is their shelter.”

Hook also painted a pertinent verse on the outside of the shelter with this idea in mind: “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge” (Psalm 16:1).

The artist launched a website for the project, attracting contributions from people worldwide to help cover the costs of his unexpected stay and related expenses.

He said, “I only came for 20 days, I didn’t budget for a big trip but God had other plans!” 

Hook told ALL ISRAEL NEWS that he has had an overwhelmingly positive response from the public while he paints. He shared, “I’ve had people running across the street, yelling out in delight, “Oh my goodness this is amazing!”

“One woman came and said, “Wow this is amazing, all the color! The flowers! When the alarm goes off I’m going to be dancing and running in there!” I thought, what a transformation of a mindset – they don’t have to fear, this is going to somehow communicate the goodness of God and heaven. He’s still with them in such a difficult situation. I also hope that it will also be long-lasting that people will see these things and it will be a permanent testimony of reminding them that it doesn’t have to be as bad or traumatic because God is with them.”

Hook shared another testimony about a woman named Noa from Kiryat Shmona, in northern Israel, who was forced to evacuate her home after it was hit by a Hezbollah rocket that claimed the life of her neighbor.

Now living in a hotel in Tiberias for almost a year, she cried out with joy, “It’s a miracle! You’re the angel of Tiberias!”

Hook jokingly responded, “I’m far from an angel, but ok!"

“I’ve come here to show Israel support in the time of war with the gifts that I have,” Hook said, adding, “The impact of this painting was so powerful, everyone kept saying, “Stay! Do more!” They have been greeting me, thanking me – all sorts of people have been asking me to paint things all over Tiberias.”

On his website detailing the project, he explains that his goal is to bring “some form of hope and light for the locals in such a horrible, difficult time of war and terrorism in a land that just seeks peace.”

“I’ll probably come back next year and continue because I don’t think I'll get 40 done before my visa runs out,” he said. “I might even bring some more artists with me.”

Click here to visit Justin Andrew Hook's website or make a donation.