Who is artist Maayan Shahar? Share with us a few things about you and your work in general.
My name is Maayan Shahar, I am an interdisciplinary artist who works mostly through the
medium of sculpture and installation. my studio is located in Tel-Aviv and my work usually combines techniques of sculpture with ready-made materials that I find interesting to work with. I find the existing objects as a good starting point because of its characteristics and it wide range of meanings and associations.
What was your reaction when you heard that you were awarded?
I was very excited. The award announcement was a great surprise for me.
Tell us a few words about your awarded work.
“An imaginary journey into the deep sea” is a video work, I created during the years 2019-2020 and presented it for the first time at the Larnaca biennale. The video follows a journey of one floating Persian rug whom I created as an ocean site-specific piece. The rug interwoven with 5,000 fishing floats using a net rope, measuring 550 x 350 cm.
The rug resembles a threshold to the mysteries of the open sea, a passage from the defined to the undefined, a gentle seamline between water and dry land. Its ability to float on the water attempts to undermine the representation of steady ground, replacing it with the deep, mysterious and unknown sea, a no man’s land existing beyond our clear and familiar borders.
What was your overall impression about Larnaca Biennale 2021?
The Larnaca Biennale includes a very professional team of people who worked very hard under
special conditions of a global epidemic. When I came to the opening event, I was happy to find a beautiful venue with great works of art. It was a strong experience to meet people from all over the world and to exhibit alongside so many great artists.
A message you would like to send to artists that will apply in the future for participation in the Larnaca Biennale.
It is a wonderful opportunity you should have!
