Dafna Talmon
Artist&Photographer 

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I am a wanderer. Constantly on the move, I seek to challenge ways and walks of life by engaging with people, animals, objects and geographies I meet along my way. My tools consist of myself and my faculties: humor, wit, playfulness and genuine interest. It is through seemingly lighthearted yet actually profound communion that I aim to bring on a mutual reflection about core societal issues such as heteronormativity, anthropocentrism and consumerism. Although my subjects are considerable, my attitude is one of compassion. I am not interested in delivering judgment, but instead seek out thoughtful and meaningful connections, experiences and conversations as a way forward. 

 

I set out purposefully on my artistic path at the age of 40. When, prompted by the death of my beloved dog Nina, I packed up everything I had and began living life as a nomad. For the next four years I was constantly on the move, living in other peoples homes, taking care of their animal loved ones. I find these relationships, between humans and animals, to be of the utmost significance to me. 

 

With no home, I had no need for stuff. And so, I began what was to be a much bigger endeavor than I could have anticipated, manifesting over the years in many iterations as exhibitions, tours, installations, video works, interviews and interventions. This was “The Gift Project” (2018-2021), a never ending undertaking of getting rid of one's things. I began it by documenting everything I ever owned, and then wrapping it up in uniform brown paper to be distributed amongst visitors at my Post Graduate final exhibition. In this manner, I could both be free of my things and give the audience a gift, leaving them with a sense of joy and wonder. Consequently, I was sought out by other people who invited me into their homes, asking for my help in taking the weight of things and memories off their hands. Each object and encounter came loaded with histories, memories, emotions - a place and a time. With this project I went all over the country of Israel and across the ocean, examining the hold of globalism and consumerism on our world.  

 

As people, we are eager to share, we only look for the opportunity to do so. Whether through an art project, a chance meeting, or the seemingly infinite spaces of the world wide web. Being somewhat of an outsider, I view myself as a double antenna, giving and receiving, facilitating this exchange. My work exists in its engagement with other people's words, insights and experiences. These manifest in encounters and conversations, constructed meeting spaces, workshops and other participatory events. I collect words, sounds and artifacts and use them to make installations, videos and sound works. All are different ways to the same goal, an ongoing, never ending search for the beating heart of us. We as a community, its peoples, animals and objects. The very stuff from which life is made of.

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My artist portfolio