Meeting David Tartakover
Yanek called us while we were at the beach and told us he had a surprise for us, and wanted us to meet someone that he knew we would enjoy. So, we went back to our hitel, took a quick shower and headed for the Fontef studio. From there we set out on foot towards the section of town Jake and I had liked best on our walk to Jaffa and is called Nachalat Binyamin. On the way, Yanek explained that we were about to meet one of the most important figures in Israeli design...the winner of the Israeli Prize for design, an a good friend of his. We arrived at an unassuming building and rang the doorbell. As soon as the door opened and we entered the building we knew we were in for a very special visit. The rooms were covered in interesting artwork, posters and signage, creating a beautiful and visually inspiring setting. On the left side of the room there were two large windows with many panes...each had been covered by a simple sheet of paper crudely taped to the glass - which created an effective way to diffuse the harsh sun light and veil the view. The result was very pleasant in terms of light, and also a piece of art in itself.
A man whose work defines the Israeli struggle.
David Tartakover is a bit gruff, yet a very polite man who speaks English very well. He may be in his sixties. - or maybe he's older..but he has the energy of a much younger man. He looks like a more mature version of myself and Yanek combined - another bald designer from Israel. His persona is larger than life - he is someone that knows that he has accomplished a great deal and values his own "oeuvre". Yanek asked him to share with us what he has been working on...and David did so, but first he requested from Yanek a pledge of secrecy. Then, he sat at his computer and walked us through a book he is designing that will be a compendium of forty years of his work...to be published on the 100th anniversary of the State of Israel. In fact, over the last forty years, David's work has grown to influence and define much of the way that the Israeli design and arts community has expressed the political struggle and strife within the country and its people. David's work is not beautiful in the traditional sense...instead it is powerful and meaningful...it is purposeful and visceral...and it is very impressive in its breadth and in its message. As we were leaving David gave me a gift - a book of work that he created in anticipation, during and after Sadat's visit to Israel. I am very excited to own this small book...and I feel honored to have had an opportunity to spend some time with a man of such strong vision and commitment. This was yet another gift that Yanek gave me during my visit...and perhaps one of the most memorable experiences of this entire trip.
Tartakover's work.
I am enclosing one of David's famous posters from a series called "STAIN". This one is a self portrait...but the series includes photos of many famous and infamous political figures whose portraits were partially obscured by a map of the West Bank in (blood) red - one of the many series of powerfully graphic, powerfully political works that he has created to build awareness for the state of affairs in Israel. For a view of David's work, please visit: http://www.tartakover.co.il/
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