Artist in Focus: Shahar Marcus

July 17, 2020

Keeping with our virtual conversations, we have been checking in with our artists to understand how the recent pandemic has influenced their studio life and routine. This time, we caught up with Shahar Marcus to get a glimpse of the artist‘s studio, work, and thought process.

HOW DO YOU DRINK YOUR COFFEE?
I usually drink one cup of coffee a day at a café near my house. This is my morning ritual and I usually sit in the same spot.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST FASCINATED BY THESE DAYS?
In our planet, there are a few physical sites that inspire and influence humans throughout history. These sites are called power sites. I am currently doing research for my PHD about these energetic sites around the world and as part of my research I will create a video performance at each of them. Click here to watch an excerpt from El Rujm – the work was shot at the archaeological site Rujm el-Hiri that consists of large stone monuments, placed in the middle of a field in the Golan Heights.

WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WANTED TO BECOME AN ARTIST?
I became an artist at a late time in my life. In fact, I don’t remember ever wanting to be an artist when I was a child, and had nothing to do with art until I was 30. When I was getting my MA in Art History, I saw a note posted asking students to participate in a performance by an artist. I showed up, and ended up working on that project for a year, after which I wanted to make my own performances and slowly began to practice my own art.

DO YOU HAVE A STUDIO ROUTINE? WHAT IS IT LIKE?
I don’t think I have any real routine except for drinking coffee in the morning. I try to be in the studio as much as I can. During Corona, I was there every day and used it for teaching my students online and for working on new projects.

CHOOSE AN OBJECT IN YOUR STUDIO THAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU. WHAT MAKES IT MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN OTHERS?
I would say my broom is the most important because only when I clean the studio do I feel like I really did something important today.

WHAT ARTISTS OR ARTWORKS ARE YOU MOST INFLUENCED BY?
I am influenced by film directors like Peter Greenaway and artists like Francis Alÿs and Jackson Pollock, but most of all it is Marcel Duchamp who influences my every artistic thought.WHAT CITY WOULD YOU SAY HAS IMPACTED YOUR PRACTICE, AND HOW?
Berlin would be the city, as it is there that I met my colleague Nezaket Ekici who influenced my whole career.

WHAT IS THE BIGGETS MISTAKE IN YOUR LIFE?I don’t think about mistakes. There is no such thing in my opinion. I think everything happens for a reason.

DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL LUNCH.
Lunch with a bottle of white wine, drinking half the bottle and then sleeping for two hours.

ANY ONLINE RECOMMENDATIONS?
The Last Dance , the Michal Jordan documentary on Netflix.

Marcus is currently showing works at Koresh 14 and the Rishon L’zion Municipal Gallery, and working on upcoming exhibitions in Israel and abroad in 2021.

Shahar Marcus