Idan Zareski

Le Siffleur 85

2019

Born in Haifa, Israel in 1968, Idan Zareski has had a non-conventional yet surprising journey. Very young he was immersed in multiple cultures and lived a cosmopolitan life between Africa, Europe, the United States and Latin America. At the age of 38 he decided to stop everything to follow his passion, sculpting. Idan gained rapid international recognition with his Bigfoot Family and the permanent exhibitions of his monumental sculptures worldwide. While encouraging cultural awareness and tolerance around the globe, the Bigfoot Family achieved a recognizable notoriety throughout their universal message of unity. Candid and laid-back, Idan's sculptures demonstrate his innate talent to represent emotions. The artist manages to capture moments in such a way that we feel naturally connected to his touching, and graceful work."I don’t plan or organise, I don’t draw sketches. my experiences and raw emotions serve as my only guide. When I work, I feel in absolute communion with a force greater than myself” By combining his ideas with materials such as Resin or Bronze, Idan creates bodies in movement balanced or frozen in space: sculpture projects that will be finalized in his workshops in either France, Portugal, or Florida. The artist never took any art or anatomy course, he instead follows his instinct and emotions rather than any drawings or sketches: ninety percent of his creations are shaped in less than one hour. The memories of his childhood, mostly spent in Africa, represent his main source of inspiration: the artist recreates that to which he has been a witness while leaving space for improvisation Each one possesses his own characteristic while still keeping a common familiar symbolism: these big feet, which represent our roots, and our attachment to the same planet, the Earth. According to the artist,no matter what our race or color is, where we live or who we are, we are all enslaved to our paradisiac planet, our home”. This idea of unity among the human race is something Idan Zareski wants to express through his work. The artist diverts and transforms the human anatomy in his sculptures: amplification of body parts, relaxing attitude, dramatization, pop and generous colours varying from metallic purple to bright green. These elements contribute to surprising the audience, while portraying a tranquil, peaceful message. A more detailed observation of the sculptures reveals a reflection and critique of our own humanity: these family members all carry an awareness message about cultural differences and origins to bring us the Bigfoot Family Project.