About
Driven by a profound curiosity about human behavior, Dafna Tal's creative process blends documentary principles with contemporary and conceptual art. Her practice incorporates video, photography, installation, and sculpture, often involving collaboration with diverse communities and natural environments.
Tal began her artistic career studying theater and sculpture in Ireland before pursuing photography at the International Center of Photography in New York (ICP). She furthered her education in the European Diploma for Cultural Project Management program at the Association Marcel Hicter in Finland, Cyprus, and Greece.
Her works have been exhibited internationally, including at the Royal Scottish Academy of Art (Edinburgh, UK), Visa pour L’Image (Perpignan, France), Copenhagen Photo Festival (Denmark), Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre (Sydney, Australia), and Lagos Photo Festival (Nigeria).
Artist Statement
My artistic inspiration is deeply rooted in my enduring curiosity towards the complexities of human consciousness. I am intrigued by the intricate processes that shape our thoughts, emotions, and perceptions, ultimately guiding human behavior and molding individual and collective destinies.
Through the act of artistic creation, I embark on a transformative journey, translating these intangible inner realms into tangible forms of expression. Mental upheavals find their physical counterparts, worldviews manifest as geometric shapes, and internal transformations unfold as explorations through landscapes. In this process, enigmatic inner worlds are brought to life, offering viewers new pathways to discovery.
My creative process includes diverse methodologies, encompassing in-situ experiments, participatory art, documentation, and staged processes. I create my work using the practice of photography, video, installation, and sound to craft my narratives, often collaborating with diverse communities and environments. Each project serves as a unique opportunity to delve into new themes, modes of expression, and depths of experience.
This profound curiosity about human consciousness took root during my time in Jerusalem, where I immersed myself in various cultural communities and sought to comprehend the psychological and emotional underpinnings the challenges of the local reality. This period marked the inception of my artistic journey, by creating a cross-cultural experiment focused on local communities. As my work has evolved, I've ventured into a multitude of communities and environments, while exploring new and universal themes.