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Ohad Maiman is a New York based Philosopher and Artist. Following 3 years
of service in the Special Forces, Maiman has traveled the Far East and
South America extensively; eventually settling in New York in the summer of '99;
Graduated at Columbia University in Philosophy and Visual Arts '03.
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• Excerpts from Wonder/Venture- treatise in progress
Wonder/Venture
Originally, We all have an inner Beast… A particular, powerful, often-secretive Passion for something. Anything.
In a world saturated with societal norms of conduct, even the rebel has been given a mold to fit in. To begin with, these norms are a wonderful system responsible for catapulting humanity into a state where we no longer kill each other at random will. Where we all know how to be courteous, civil, polite to each other.
Yet when those norms come to shape the internal core of our personal ‘self’, we have a problem. Should it not bother us that our individual character is shaped by ideas and concepts strictly not our own? That there exist those ideals greater than ourselves we ought to follow?
Beyond basic rule of law I find conformity to be a wretched form of spiritual death; vanquishing freedom so efficiently it is left to be found only in rare genuine expression.
To be exact, freedom is not found in mass-produced dissent. Goth, Punk, or any other form of organized rebellion are as corrosive as the system they rise against. Fakeness can be a malignant condition.
And yet against all odds, some people still march to their own drumbeat. We find them strangely confident in their own eccentricities and often wonder where they found the nerve to be so… unusual. They seem to know something most of us lost.
If you ever went a step back and took a fresh, hard, questioning look at everything; whether around the world or around the corner; set aside the time to Wander... or the patience to Wonder... You may recognize some of the following images and perspectives.
Whether it is because you decipher my story, make up your own, or truly let all guards down and see how comfortable or defensive, empathic or indifferent, widely different forms of existence make you feel.
You may come to wonder how come we keep chasing and guessing the meaning of life while all along it is staring us in the face; most often in the smile of our child or lover.
You may come to wonder how all of us animals sharing this world have managed to create a society and ideals greater than ourselves.
You may come to wonder how with so many simultaneously coexisting realities we all actually manage to communicate, and coexist.
I am not yet sure why IS everything, but I am sure it is spectacular.
I reflect life. As vivid and shameless as I can find it.
After three years in the army I spent six months deconstructing the folly in the Far East and Central America, until somehow I stopped taking anything for granted. Experiencing how extremely different of a shape human existence takes-on across continents, and how i could essentially chose my own, forced me to question what is it that we all 'ought' to aspire for.
I have tried to capture and share some of the fleeting faces of those alternate paths.
How comfortable or disturbed we feel with each of those contrasting faces might end up teaching each of us something, about ourselves.
Since aren't those value judgments so personal... and relative?
The following work is by no means intended to evoke in you the exact same feelings and meaning I experienced when I made them. I trust you would find your own.
But it begs a question. One I believe we each need to ask ourselves-
What keeps me unique?
Ohad Maiman
War- a short film about war and human nature
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CV
EDUCATION:
1999: Columbia University, Visual Arts/ Philosophy BA. New York, US.
EXHIBITIONS:
2006: Through the looking glass; Resident Photographer’s show at CVZ Contemporary, NYC.
2005: Venture Solo Show, Neel Edeling Curator, Avadon Studio, NYC.
2005: CVZ Contemporary Video Works Showcase & Previews of works on paper by Matt Jones and Photography by Ohad Maiman.
2004: New York New Work Group Show; Ayelet Aldouby & Doron Polak Curators. Givataim
Museum, Israel.
2003: Wants, Traveling Art-Book Group Show. Doron Polak Curator.
2002: Substance Group Show, Lerner Hall Gallery, Columbia University.
ART PROJECTS:
2004: Wonder Photography Book.
2003: Photography:
'Wants' A Final Independent study guided by Dana Hoey, on life’s forks and our wondering dilemma.
Writing:
' The Curious Aborigine' A Philosophical Treatise on the random nature of science.
' Wonder' A Novel about a 21st century young man’s stream-of-consciousness existential crisis.
2002: Video:
'War' A Glimpse into War, humanity, and how humanity creates wars.
Writing:
' How else could the explain the flight of a bird?' A Philosophical exploration of God and Myth.
2001: 'Malice and Compassion' A series on the fine line between hate and love, tenderness and horror.
2000: 'Favorite Works' A collection of Writings, paintings, and photographs of naïve rebellion.
1999: Photography:
'Angels' A series exploring the peaceful perfection of our mythical self-perception.
' Introspection' A first look through the mirror and beyond.