ORI SINDEL Art in blue!
Ori Sindel’s atomic missile
in the size of a blue ballpoint pen!
By Ian Browne Shamrock News
Israeli born artist Ori Sindel's work always fascinates me when I catch up with him around the Northern Rivers of New South Wales. He is a thoughtful, humble man whose gentle ways allow others to engage with his entrancing art style.
Enjoy the journey of Ori Sindle and his wizen ballpoint pen!
What brought you to our shores?
I came all the way from Jerusalem for your meat-pies.
Describe what you do, the medium; the reasons why you create these vibrant illustrations.
I have an atomic missile in the size of a blue ballpoint pen. I draw with the biro first of all, since it gives me meaning; First of all, to myself, but it seems that for others too. In a meaningless world such as ours, even 5 minutes of meaning are precious.
How long have you been practising this form of art?
Since I graduated high school, it must have been nearly 15 years.
How did a life growing-up in Israel influenced your art?
It influenced me a little I guess, yeah, you can find some Israeli myths in some of my art. But I believe that more influencing was a hitchhiking journey which I had in 2010, from Finland, to Russia, Estonia and Latvia. This adventure filled my mind and heart with enough inspiration for a decade. The hitchhiker became the hero of my artworks for that decade.
KOTKA
In what way has your experience in Australia seen new energy arriving to your illustrations?
My images used to be even more outsider art in the style than now, in Australia however, I experienced more realism. With that new toy, the realism, I could draw people who really interest me: blues legends, buskers, homeless people.
Another thing was that in Israel, people usually speak more about news and politics. Here however a popular topic for a conversation is nature. That must be the reason why I drew a series of Aussie animal images, which were all exhibited in the Haven Bar, Murwillumbah.
……to be a star in the night sky.”
What is most important to you in life, and does your artistic devotion allow you to traverse this emotional landscape?
Must be the stars, which are more precious than any diamond. When I just began to seriously draw, it was all inspired by the eternal light of the stars. In hopeless times in my life, all I needed to do is to raise up my head and gaze at it, and hope would fill me. Therefore, many of my images are lightened by the blueish starlight. That’s also my biggest dream: to be a star. And by a star, I do not mean anything shallow as being a powerful celebrity. I literally mean it, to be a star in the night sky.
Is there a piece of work that stands out for you, one that reflects something important to you and others?
Maybe the cover artwork that I’ve made for the Melbourne based musician Kyle Taylor’s EP, THE CREATURES?
I drew it with markers (something that sure doesn’t happen every day) …thin as markers, and it showed the musician, fire at the base and many raindrops in all kinds of sizes and colours falling. The inspiration was the night that ended up with the bushfires in Murwillumbah; the night it rained, and people were so happy about it, so they went out of their houses and started to dance in the streets.
What are you currently exploring through your illustrations?
Last year I drew many images about death, skeletons and such; when COVID-19 started, and I was afraid that me or people who are important to me will die. I drew the Statue of Liberty as a skeleton, and even had one image of a skeleton dressed up like me. And the skeletons are always sinking in the flood caused by the global warming.
Lately however, I am focusing in on some fantastic direction: such as wizards, super-beings, and such. In those images the night skies are always full of a zillion stars.
What is planned for the future?
Launching the atomic missile in the size of a ballpoint pen.
I enjoyed your exhibition at the Haven in Murwillumbah. Have you showed your art elsewhere?
Tubi 60 (group exhibition) - 2016 Jaffa
Black Magic - 2016 Jerusalem, Municipal Gallery
Cricket Work - 2017 Haifa
Psolet (group exhibition) - 2018 The Teder, Tel Aviv
Why Do Cockroaches Die on Their backs (group exhibition) - 2018 Tel Aviv
Hazvi O Israel (group exhibition) - 2019 Kibutz Dan, Beit Osishkin Museum
The Bowerbird - 2020 Haven Bar, Murwillumbah
The Flood - 2021 Murwillumbah Library
ORI SINDEL instagram.com/BiroBay
SUFIWIZ
STAR LION
