A visual artist examining icons of the world.
Maya Barkai is a visual artist and graduate of the School of Visual Arts Photography Department in New York. Born in Jerusalem, Israel, Barkai spent her military service in the Israeli Defense Forces as a military photographer for their official magazine. Based in New York City for the last 10 years, Barkai is creator of public art projects Walking Men 99™ (2010) at the upcoming Four Season’s Hotel in downtown New York, and Men at Work (2011) surrounding the World Trade Centre Tower Four.
Her installation Walking Men Worldwide™, as part of Art & About Sydney, aims to provoke conversation about the depiction of the ‘common man’, and the stories that it carries through the streets.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I was always drawn to creative things like arts and crafts, photography, and music. I’m not sure if I was one of those kids who had a clear idea of what they wanted to do, but I was lucky to have incredibly supportive parents who encouraged everything I ever wanted to experiment with.
When did you know you would work in the arts?
Growing up around my family’s gallery business (publishers of lithographs by 20th century masters), I was surrounded by people who adore art, and it was almost inevitable that I would become involved in the field in one way or another. I became fascinated with photography at an early age, and have always followed this passion.
How would you describe your work to a complete stranger?
I isolate small details from everyday life in photographs, presenting them in different prism, perspective, challenging their obvious forms, meaning, and interpretation.
Is there a mission to your work?
Exposing, presenting what’s seemingly mundane in a way that might make the viewer think, linger.
What’s the first thing career related you usually do each day?
I spend every morning reading my favorite blogs, art critiques, industry news.
What’s the one thing – piece of equipment, toy, security blanket, – you can’t work without?
My camera.
What gets you fired up?
I have great curiosity for the multitude of art forms the city has to offer, and consider this environment to be highly influential on my work.
What are the top three skills you need in this industry?
A good subject, ambition, and a signature style.
How do you know when you missed the mark?
I am overly critical of my work, when something isn’t good I just know it.
Where do you plan to be in three years time?
Spending my time between NYC and Israel, traveling with my public art and creating more installations under the umbrella of Walking Men Worldwide.
Barkai’s installation Walking Men Worldwide™, will be exhibited in the City of Sydney’s collaborative art festival Art & About Sydney, which will run through Sydney from 20 September to 20 October.
For information about installations and events visit the Art & About Sydney website.
(Pictured: Maya Barkai, photograph by Anat Barkai)
