I am a Neuroscientist and an avid Art Photographer. My research focused on the study of epilepsy, and the development of innovative cure for this illness. In recent years I found myself directing most of my attention and energy to still life photography of biological specimens, highly inspired by my confrontation with biological tissues and natural fauna.
It takes a while for a young clinician or a researcher to accommodate the laboratory or hospital scenes to enable good performance. This is done by extensive training; some cannot adjust to the visuals. My photographic activity deals with the aesthetics of the scene, improvising various contexts, the tools and paraphernalia shown are not just the typical ones used in the operating place. I am forcing the biological tissue into artificial scenarios contemplating issues of materialism, erotica and mortality. I feel my work engages also various toning of violence. We tend to describe violent humankind behavior as an animal like beastly revolting one, associated with animal violent behavior. But the animal world is dictated purely by survival rules due to inexorable, harsh selection process. No one will consider the employment of the essentials measures for the preservation of the species as cruel ones; this was previously emphasized by Charles Darwin and recent eminent scholars. I believe in many aspects we are inferior to the animal world moral conduct, while being superior in our intellectual competence. (All specimens are derived from Natural History Collections).
My scientific research focused on the study of the mechanisms underlying epilepsy, and the development of innovative cure for this illness. My “Life Science” photography project was first introduced in solo at the New York Photography Festival (2011) and surprised me with immense supporting reactions. It was presented in leading galleries in Israel, and numerous invitations followed including: FOTO8 and Lensculture, Lodz Fotofestival GradPrix, Arles Gallery Huit, Cape Town Photography Festival (MoP5 2012), twice at the San Diego Museum of the living artist, Solo at the Athens Photography Festival 2012, Millennium images – London first prize 2012 (represented these days by Millennium, London), Edward Hopper Art Center- NY with Jury Recognition Award, Cambridge University Gallery, Bulgarian Photo Academy (solo) , the Jerusalem – On The Seam Museum , the Boston Griffin Museum of Photography , The Center for fine art photography Fort Collins and NIKON story telling Award Tokyo Exhibition (2013). Featured in “An Eye for an Ear” Arles exhibition photography book, in The Center for fine art photography – Portfolio 6 and in numerous publications. Will be featured in Gomma ‘Su-ture’ book (2014).
Lecturing from time to time on the “Brain and the visual arts” with emphasis on “animal reminder” genre (also engaged in relevant curatorial projects). Was featured in the following international magazines: GUP, Trendtablet, Tribe, loeildelaphotographie, PH mag, Lensculture, ArtesMagazine, Prism_photomagazine (also in short at the Sunday Times – SPECTRUM) [Official Website]
