Varda Carmeli-Shklovsky. Artist Statement
The majority of my photography work comprises long-term projects where I conduct photography journeys in diverse regions of the world. The expeditions conform to an ongoing study of various cultures by means of which I mediate, in an intuitive and unplanned manner, my standpoint vis-à-vis the culture under observation. Over the years, my photography projects have drawn me into making trips to Europe, where I had to deal with my identity and its related cultural resonance as a second generation Holocaust survivor, as well as throughout Israel and the West Bank. and more recently, to the current program where I travel to remote parts of Europe, Asia, Central America, Africa and Israel in "Journey with Yeshua".
I love the sense of curiosity and the surprises I encounter. Indeed this mode of photography may be defined as snapshot photography, which is usually done intuitively while focusing on objects that interest and thrill me. The surroundings serve me as a stage on which the scene transpires. I envisage this scene as a picture telling a story I'm aiming to capture, wherein the characters could help develop the plot or alternatively counter it and remain outside the frame. Accordingly, my photography is always attentive to the natural rhythm and the aura of the place. I do not engage in posing the images but rather allow them to unfold naturally in the expanse, seeking to capture them in their natural environment within the space and the story they generate.
As a person, as an Israeli and as a creative artist, I experience, as we all do, the Israeli experience with its good moments as well as its difficult situations inherent to our being. My journeys always emanate from a need to process elements of my identity and to cope with them by means of photography. Thus I devote myself to the photographic act and through it I channel the unexplained places in my being, allowing my passion, my curiosity and my adventurousness to direct my footsteps.
Bio
I live and work in Israel. Since 2004 photography has been a major part of my artistic activity after a long career in a variety of mediums including painting, print and installation. Among my studies can be included photography studies at the Midrasha School of Art, Beit Berl College (2005-2006) as well as studies in various frameworks with teachers such as Yigal Shem Tov, Gaston Tzvi Itzkowitz, Yoel Shtrug; Baruch Elron; Dan Krieger, Yaakov Mishori and Avinoam Kosovsky.
Major exhibitions: Jerusalem Artists' House Gallery, Israel; Tel-Aviv Artists' House, Israel; Art Space TLV; Tova Osman Art Gallery,Tel-Aviv, Israe; Fotogalerie Friedrichshain, Berlin; Espace Culturel – Mémoire de l'Avenir, Paris; Museo Gilardi, Tuscany, Italy; Museo Gilardi & Comun di San Pellegrino, Italy; The Open Museum of Photography, Tel Hai, Israel; Bat-Yam Museum of Art; Israel; Ashdod Museum, Israel; The V-Biennale of Sacred Art, Spain; Photo Is:Real, International Photography Festival, Tel-Aviv, Israel; The European Photography Festival, Museum Benaki, Athens; Fotogalerei Fridrichshain, Berlin; Espace Culturel - Mémoire de l'Avenir, Paris; Vernon Gallery, Prague; TINA B. Contemporary Art Festival, Prague; Musée de La Poste, Paris.
Setting for a musical: "in de 30". Music: Ger Otte; Singer: Pia Douwes; Custumes: by Giorgio Armani; Roterdam, Holland
Residency: by 'Red Gate Gallery' in Beijing.
Awards include: Photography contest from the Open Museum of Photography, Tel- Hai; Israel Photography Competition "LG YPHOTO 2016"; first place prize from Musée de La Poste, Paris, the painting is located in the Museum Collection; Award from Excellence, Manhattan Arts International, New York; Artist Award from the President of Italy and the Gilardi Museum, Italy.
Artist books:
AREA C שטח
DECAPSULATION - צפונות
AN ISRAELI MICROCOSMOS IN TIME OF COVID-19 - מיקרוקוסמוס ישראלי בזמן קורונה
The books are located in libraries and museums in Israel and abroad.
