10 Questions with Ofer Shomron

Al-Tiba9 Art Magazine ISSUE14 | Featured Artist

Ofer Shomron, born in 1951, lives and works in Herzliya, Israel.
Ofer's painting career began about a decade ago, after many years in which he was occupied with work and raising his family.

In the last ten years, Ofer studied in the framework of painting courses in several ateliers of prominent Israeli artists. He also studied at the "Hakolel School of Contemporary Painting" and, for the past two years, has been taking advanced classes at the "Atelier" School of art located in Tel Aviv. His works are characterized by bold, original colorism, and he deals a lot with the relationship between humans and their environment, alongside descriptions of animals and urban living. Ofer presented solo and group exhibitions throughout Israel, and his works are found in private collections.

ofershomron.com | @ofershomron

ARTIST STATEMENT

Art took hold of Ofer Shomron at the advanced age of 60. Recurring dreams about colors flowing around him convinced Ofer to embark on a new path. Ever since, he has studied and still is in various painting schools and courses, including "The Atelier" and "Hakolel" schools.

He is an avid colorist. He loves color and exploring color and likes to place strong, expressive colors side by side. His curiosity about the world is the motivation and energy for his artistic quest. Two years ago, he started focusing on relationships in a variety of situations. These included relationships between people of different ages as he tried to visually describe individuals' psychological and fantastic inner worlds. Photography and observation are, for Ofer, gateways to the world, modes of interpreting reality and translating it into painting. Photography is the main vehicle for him in his artistic exploration. He seeks to grasp situations and interactions through body movement, gaze, or eye contact between individuals.

He mostly paints in oil and occasionally uses a mixed technique. Most of the works are on canvas, but from time to time, he uses ready-made bedding like wood, cardboard, or metal that he finds scattered in the streets.

INTERVIEW

First of all, introduce yourself to our readers. Who are you, and how did you get interested in art? 

My name is Ofer Shomron, I am a painter. My painting starts from an observation. It arises and is nourished by a dialogue with the tangible world, as well as photographic references. At the same time, it is connected to emotion and memory. A central theme in my works is a man who is looking for his place and identity in the world while in dialogue with the environment. Even when I paint a landscape or a still life, I focus on the human element, as if seeking to investigate a mystery as an observer who observes and investigates what is happening. The relationship between the body and the physical environment and the complex interrelationships between humans and animals appear frequently in my works.

You only approached art making and painting at a later age. What prompted you to follow this path? And what did you wish you knew before getting started?  

A dream that returned every night for a few days in which liquids and colors dripped from my hands and shoulders - a disturbing situation every time I woke up from it. After about a week, the dream repeated itself, so I decided that I had to get up and paint.

When you started making art, did you already know you wanted it to be a new career path, or did you first approach it just as a hobby? 

I started drawing without titles or goals. I was attracted to it without deciding. 
The beginning was a study that went deeper and deeper into the theory of color, drawing, and painting from contemplation. Over the years, I enriched my knowledge and techniques by working in studios of painters who are also talented artists and teachers. They are my mentors.

Ultimately, what are your main goals when it comes to your art? 

I would not define it as a goal but as a need to express my attitude towards things that are happening or are that I see in reality or in its documentation, for example, in photography.

You work with paintings and traditional techniques, like oil on canvas. What does it represent for you? And why did you choose this medium over others?

Sometimes I also paint in acrylics, but most of the time, I find that the oil color is closer to my soul. It allows me to express thoughts while they change. Working with oil paint makes changes possible, and it is easier to treat the canvas and the paint while it is in process.

Your works are detailed and almost abstract, and you work with large color fields. What is your creative process like? Can you walk us through the realization of one of your works from start to finish?

First, I paint directly on the canvas with acrylic (in most cases), and the background I choose to paint does not necessarily constitute a "logical" basis for the painting I plan. It is important to me that the background will stay as a background and will not be a part of the painting. I want it and the painting process to surprise me while I work.

You have a specific color palette and a recognizable style. How did you develop it? And where do you get your inspiration from?

The world around me fascinates me. Often, others do not notice the things I find interesting, and I can track down scenes, places, and moments that other people do not pay attention to. The decision to use one color or another is complex and hard to describe. Sometimes, it is a process of apprehension and feeling, and sometimes, intuitions that consciously choose a color that is the most daring, challenging, and illogical in terms of the scene simply because I feel that it is right

Is there anything else you would like to experiment with?   

Many things! I am just looking for them, waiting for the next surprise.

Despite having worked for just a few years, you already have a long and successful career. What is one piece of advice you would like to give to an emerging artist? And on the contrary, what is one thing you still have to master?  

I do not feel old and experienced enough to advise young artists.

Lastly, what are your plans for the future? Are there any new exciting projects or exhibitions you can share with our readers?

I have an interest in presenting subjects that have human value whatsoever; sometimes, these are abstract subjects, and I am looking for a way to express them in my painting. One of the topics that has occupied me in recent years is the concept of overload.  The existing burden on man in the 21st century intensified through the means of communication and digital social networks. The overload is caused by overexposure in reality or as it is reflected in the media.  A load of experiences, photographs, and real and invented images is endless and challenges the feeling of everyday life. I am concerned with the visual way in which the eye deals with the load, categorizes it, and the attraction-repulsion relationship we have with the phenomenon, which visually allows us ways of discovery, expression, and representation.

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.