by Christopher Jobson
Taking notice of the countless people we witness as a backdrop to our daily lives seems like an impossible task, but for artist Zadok Ben-David (previously) this myriad of anonymous people form the basis of his installation People I Saw But Never Met. Comprised of over 3,000 chemically etched miniature figures displayed at varying proportions, each individual is pulled from photographs taken by Ben-David during his travels across Europe, the United States, Central Asia, Australia, and Antarctica, creating a diverse assemblage of various cultures and people.
Shown individually, the two-dimensional sketch-like sculptures seem to depict the mundane moments in the lives of average citizens, tourists, and even pets, but viewed collectively the installation offers a unique snapshot of humanity at a certain moment in time. “Ben-David’s sculptural milieu comes at a critical point in our current socio-political climate,” says Shoshana Wayne Gallery, “where heated debates about exclusion and borders versus inclusivity and multiplicity are part of our daily experience.”
People I Saw But Never Met has been installed in various configurations since 2015 and is currently on view at Shoshana Wayne Gallery in Santa Monica through May 27, 2017. This new installation incorporates thousands of smaller figures along with 45 much larger hand-cut aluminum figures installed in a large gallery space. You can see more views here. (via Design Milk)
“People I Saw But Never Met,” 2017. Courtesy Shoshana Wayne Gallery.
“People I Saw But Never Met,” 2015, detail.
“People I Saw But Never Met,” 2015, detail.
“People I Saw But Never Met,” 2017, detail. Courtesy Shoshana Wayne Gallery.
“People I Saw But Never Met,” 2017, detail. Courtesy Shoshana Wayne Gallery.
“People I Saw But Never Met,” 2017, detail. Courtesy Shoshana Wayne Gallery.
“People I Saw But Never Met,” 2017, detail. Courtesy Shoshana Wayne Gallery.
