Disconnect and Reconnect
Everyday objects turned into clever compositions with a sense of humor.
Strongly connected to home design and fashion elements, Dudi Ben Simon creates readymade combined with photography. The Tel Aviv-based artist —and creative mind behind the marketing campaigns of large companies in the Israel Publicis group— is always on the search for authenticity and finding himself through his creations. The mix of materials that Dudi brings to the table, speaks to one another making the spectator find visual relationships that are mostly unspoken. The selection of his work is also an invitation to the viewer to learn more about their visual landscapes.
Photo: Courtesy of the artist.
Karen: How would you introduce yourself to those who still don’t know your work?
Dudi: I see it as a type of readymade, a trend in art created by using objects or daily life items disconnected from their original context, changing their meanings, and creating a new story from them. I attempt to preserve the regular appearance of the items but with a switch. For example, I take a pair of earphones from a smartphone, and I leave them in their natural environment like a table. By adding to them a paper with a printed lower part of a female body, I change the meaning of the earphones by turning them into sort of a bra. I truly believe in minimalism and that what is not required to tell the story does not exist. I believe in it also in the advertising field. Everything must be simple, without disturbances; we do not have the luxury to have the customers ponder about our creativity.
Karen: When was your interest in photography born?
Dudi: I was born creative, so my life’s reality directed me to my place today. As a child, I was marked in every frame as a talent in the field of painting, which led me to art classes. I believe that people from my childhood will not be surprised by my current occupation. In a later stage, I focused on the visual communication area, and for several years I worked as a senior creative person in one of the leading advertising offices in Israel. I am responsible for campaigns of large companies in the Israel Publicis group. After a long experience in decoding marketing briefs, I felt the need to create freely, without dictating, to express myself, and share the different angles I see things and the ways I want to express them. I found the social network an appropriate stage to exhibit my work.
Very soon, the people around me felt related to my work, and to my surprise, several people worldwide also did. My works have been covered in a lot of magazines, websites, and art and cultural design blogs, such as Vogue Korea, Elle Hong Kong Magazine, Boredpanda design website, the Instagram world blog, and articles published in the US and Europe. I had exhibited in an Art exhibition in New York and Paris.
Photos: Courtesy of the artist.
Karen: How has being born and raised in a city like Tel Aviv –which has the largest art museum in Israel and a very extensive art scene– influenced you?
Dudi: In my opinion, Tel Aviv is one of the most beautiful and fun cities in the world. It is pluralist and a hothouse of culture and creativity. It has good cuisine excellent climate and a beautiful beach. The city is full of talent in several areas.
Karen: Can you guide us through your favorite places in this city?
First of all, the beach. Combined with the local weather, it’s one of the hottest places in town. I try to go to the beach every day, for sport or just for the soul. In addition, one of my favorite streets is Chen Avenue, an avenue that leads from the national theater "Ha-Bima" to the city hall. It’s a green avenue with old trees several benches, and an island of quiet in a busy town. I also like the site of Jaffa harbor for its authentic food and interesting architecture.
Karen: Do you think that your creations portray your daily life?
Dudi: My creative process always begins with a spark of some sort; whether it was an element I saw and liked or a photograph from some magazine. If I connect to the element/photograph, an idea will indeed be born. I place the initial inspiring item in front of me and look at it occasionally until the concept is fully formed. Although I never learned photography and I do not define myself as a photographer, I am an autodidact, so I am the one who photographs and does the styling.
Photos: Courtesy of the artist’s Instagram.
Karen: What role does improvisation play in your creative process?
Dudi: Sometimes it comes easily like a gift I receive from the universe and sometimes it is a slow process; if I am dissatisfied with the result, it will be through away regardless of the investment. There have been cases in which I was so pleased and satisfied with what came out and posted it online and it did not relate to the public. Recently, I’ve created a series where I take an existing successful work and develop a sort of continuum to it, for example, a series of works portraying office elements (pins, stipple, paper clip perforator, etc).
Karen: How do you build an image?
Dudi: There are quite a few professional ways to build an image, I believe that the most important thing is to be consistent in your own way and most importantly to be authentic.
Photos: Courtesy of the artist.
Karen: After reading a couple of your interviews I’ve noticed that some people would associate your photography with a twist of a sense of humor. Do you agree with this statement?
Dudi: There is no problem with a sense of humor. If I manage to make people happy, I’m happy! As far as I am concerned, today, nowadays the social nets are the best galleries, without an art curator and no need for public relations, but with a focused public who is really interested in your work, and that provides you direct feedback. Most of my work originates from my life, the things surrounding me, or prints of photographs that I like. Therefore, I believe that one can learn from my life through my work. On rare occasions, I use exposure to social/environmental messages, like the elections in the USA and the contamination of the oceans.
Karen: The response on your Instagram account has been exceptional. Have you ever thought about materializing your work?
Dudi: If a person looks at my works, he/she can realize that I am strongly connected to elements relating to home design and the fashion world. I would always be happy for interesting connections that will do good for my creation. Also to meet people whose lives, styles, and opinions inspire me.
Photo: Courtesy of the artist.
Karen: What's next for you? What exciting projects do you have in the pipeline?
Dudi: At the moment I am in a big collaboration with a big and well-known fashion brand, an amazing project for me. My biggest dream? To have an exhibition at the MoMA of New York or in any other worthy institute.