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Fire and Water Fountain

Fire and Water Fountain, also known as the Fountain of Dizengoff Square, is a landmark in the center of Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv, Israel. Inaugurated in 1986, it is a kinetic sculpture by Israeli artist Yaacov Agam. Agam spent 10 years developing the fountain, which became one of his best-known works. He is internationally recognized as one of the founders of kinetic art. The sculpture combines an illusory dimension with a moving dimension, achieved through technology and the movement of the viewer, reflecting traits of kinetic and op art.

Fire and Water Fountain illuminated in a city square at dusk, with colorful vertical panels and arcing water jets.
Fire and Water Fountain glowing at dusk in Dizengoff Square, with water jets arcing from the colorful circular structure.
March 2016 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Fire and Water Fountain with colorful vertical slats spraying water into a circular basin, with a faint rainbow in the mist.
Fire and Water Fountain in Tel Aviv, shown actively spraying water with a faint rainbow in the mist.
© זאב זמיר · CC BY 2.5
Fire and Water Fountain spraying water in front of a hotel building with a full moon overhead.
Fire and Water Fountain illuminated beneath a full moon, with a hotel building in the background.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0
Top-down view of the Fire and Water Fountain with a circular basin, a tiered central structure, and small jets spraying water.
The Fire and Water Fountain in Dizengoff Square seen from above, with its circular basin and central sculptural form.
© שלמה רודד · CC BY 2.5
An aerial view of the Fire and Water Fountain at the center of Dizengoff Square, with people arranged in a spiral pattern around it.
The Fire and Water Fountain at Dizengoff Square, seen from above with a spiral arrangement of people around it.
© Amir Terkel (עמיר טרקל) · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TitleFire and Water Fountain
Original Hebrew nameמים ואש
Common nameDizengoff Square Fountain
Typekinetic sculpture fountain

Historical context

Inauguration year1986
Development perioddeveloped over 10 years

Creator

ArtistYaacov Agam
Artist nationalityIsraeli
Art movementKinetic art
Related styleOp art
RecognitionAgam is internationally recognized as one of the founders of kinetic art and one of his most famous creations

Discovery and provenance

Return to plaza dateJuly 2018
Relocation dateDecember 2016
Relocation placeReading Parking Lot, north Tel Aviv
Removal reasonTemporarily relocated while Dizengoff Square was being rebuilt/renovated
Removed2016
LocationCenter of Dizengoff Square, Tel Aviv, Israel

Physical characteristics

FormComposed of several large jagged wheels
Visual effectCombines an illusory dimension with a moving dimension
DesignColored geometric shapes perceived as different images from different angles

Technique

MechanismA technological mechanism, activated at different times of day and night, turns the wheels on their hinges, injects water upward in various forms, spits fire upward, and plays music

History and restoration

Restoration year2012
Condition after restorationReopened, freshly painted and repaired
Condition after rebuildingRebuilt, but the colorful artistic details and technological mechanism were missing
Planned new artworkAgam was working on new artistic details for completion in time for Tel Aviv's hosting of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest
Status of planned new artwork as of 2025No new artwork has been installed

Significance

LandmarkA landmark in the center of Dizengoff Square, Tel Aviv
Public criticismSome Tel Aviv residents criticized it for the high cost of ongoing maintenance