ARTIST STATEMENT
"I Love to travel trough time, These self portraits are not just about my 'self'
They are On Self-portraits. I'm reliving the spirit of my heroes - those whose works and lives have touched me deeply, and in that process allowing their strengths to unlock mine. Perhaps through this process I can have access to their heroic, artistic archetype.
When Durer portrayed himself as Jesus, he was not making a claim to his own godliness, but rather to his potential as a human being for that enlightenment."
My heroes, myself and time are the subjects of my work Their spirit, mind and soul had a profound impact on my creative process and inspired me to create this series of self portraits I refer to as 'On-Self portraits', narrated with experiences from their lives that I identify with.
The saying ‘every painter paints himself’, was first documented in the early Renaissance, and has been mentioned by artists ever since including myself which lead me to embark on a journey through the fabric of space and time.
With great enthusiasm and determination I studied the lives and works of these masters.
Their teachings and being submerged into my psyche allowing me to encompass all that is them
I imagined us having intimate conversations into the night about life, love, work, fun and mostly about art.
After weeks of ongoing conversations - I imagined that they asked me to take their portrait on myself.
Hence the birth of the “On - Self Portrait”.
While creating these “On-Self” portraits, it was as if my soul was driving the process but I had yet to truly understand it’s true significance. Only after I completed the process and had time to reflect on my work did I realize the parallels that attracted me to the lives of these great heroes. My identity lied in their truths.
As an artist I aspire to have my works hung in a great space like the Uffizi Gallery. Much like Leonardo - who in his day couldn’t get commissioned in Florence. He now hangs on those very walls.
Dante, who I portray fiercely kissing Beatrice, the love his life, went trough 10 stages of hell, purgatory and heaven to win her back. for many reason which I can’t explainI too, lost the love of my life and still struggling my way back to heaven.
Spiritually, I wanted to bring these artists into the present and pay homage to their souls, to their dreams coming true. Subconsciously hoping it will mirror mine.
I believe that dreams and stories are an important part of our existence. We question our process, we question how it will be accepted. Something inside us, a force greater then us compels us to take risks, regardless of the consequences. We stand naked in our truth and we tell our stories. It is in that space of truth, that an unbound connection is made, a connection woven through the fabric of time.
Method
I spent weeks planning the transformations. With the help of wigs, mustaches, birds, silicon implants, make-up, clothing, props - whatever I found necessary in order to create a respectful, worthy portrait.
Packing everything into a suitcase, I set forth on my voyage. Scouting the perfect location of each transformation, I found myself traveling through cities such as Florence, Vinci, Tuscany, New York, Paris, Ibiza,
Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and many more.
I used my camera on a tripod connected with WiFi to my phone, airing live the visual that the lens see. After I fixed the composition, I focused the parameters and pushed the shutter once for a 10 photo interval with 3 second between each shoot.
...I am proud to present to you this Dialog
with a series of "On-Self Portraits".
The dynamic principle of fantasy is play, which belongs also to the child, and as such it appears to be inconsistent with the principle of serious work. But without this playing with fantasy no creative work has ever yet come to birth."
Carl Gustav Jung
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I am. Here is my self-portrait in front of a mirror, captured behind the lens. 2015
CV
Moses Pini Siluk (born 9 December 1982) is an Israeli photographer. Currently living in between New York City and Tel Aviv.
Education
2008 B.A. Communication / Mass Media
The College ofCommunication
Solo Exhibitions
2008 The SiN
The Roof Club / Tel Aviv, Israel
2008 The SiN
Aharonson Gallery / Ramat HaSharon. Israel
2008 The SiN
Artura Studio / Tel Aviv, Israel
2009 Come Play with Me
ZOA Gallery of Zionist Organization of America / Tel Aviv, Israel
2010 Tel Aviv Calling
MBF Kunstprojekte gallery / Munich, Germany
2010 Tel Aviv Calling
Die Bank Gallery / Munich, Germany
2011 Tel Aviv Calling
Mitcham Hatachna Neve Tzedek / Tel Aviv, Israel
2011 The Retouched
Dizingof Center Gallery for contemporary art / Tel Aviv, Israel
2012 Recent Works
Blagoevgrad Bulgaria city hall / Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
2012 TAKE IT OFF
Montefiore Auction House / Tel Aviv, Israel
2014 COVER
Timora Space Of Art / Tel Aviv, Israel
2015 VISIONS AND DREAMS
ARIA GALLERY TLV / Tel Aviv, Israel
2015 ON-SELF PORTRAITS
ICRAVE GALLERY SPACE/ NY, USA
2016 RINASCITA
BURNING MAN FESTIVAL/ NV, USA
2017 RINASCITA
USAD’BA SALTYKOVYKH-CHERTKOVYKH/ Moscow, Russia
Group Exhibitions
2008 The Secret Art
Bank Leumi collection – Mani House / Tel Aviv, Israel
2008 Bodies
Macondo Gallery / London, UK
2009 Artists, Creators and Designers
The Neri Bloomfield WIZO Academy of Design and Education / Haifa, Israel
2010 Berlin Art Fair
Tempelhof, Germany
2011 Vanilla Sex
Rugin / Tel Aviv, Israel
2011 Secrets from in between Rooms
Exclusive lighting furniture / Tel Aviv, Israel
2011 Trans-Egeria
Reflex Gallery / Paris, France
2011 The History of Israel Rock
Zaritsky Artists House / Tel Aviv, IL
2012 Art Plates London
100 Years Gallery / London, UK
2013 Scope art Fair
Corridor contemporary gallery/ Miami, US
2013 Leomi Secret Art
Biet Leomi Bank/ Tel Aviv, IL
2014 Tel Aviv Photo
Namal Tel Aviv BITAN 16 / Tel Aviv, IL
2014 Iron Dome And Tear
Fusion Arts Museum / New York, US
2015 Tribute to Leonardo
Leonardo plaza / Jerusalem, IL
2020 HAMSA ALEINU
Ben Gurion airport/ Israel
2020 IDF PTSD
Eretz Israel Museum / Tel Aviv, IL
2021 SCAR
The Artists House / Tel Aviv, IL
2022 IDF PTSD
Eden Gallery / Manhattan, NY
2024 Shevet Achim
Arie Klang House/ Ashdod, Israel