We were lucky to catch up with Yochi Yakir-Avin recently and have shared our conversation below.
Yochi, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I believe it was actually the other way around; my purpose has found me:) When I was just six years old, my parents got divorced, my father left Israel, relocated to the US, and never returned. My mom was a working single mother who struggled to make ends meet. My life included moving about and switching friends, schools, and often my environment.
I had to adapt to changes rapidly since I had to live with uncertainty. Despite everything, I was an inventive and curious child who was always surrounded by friends and was constantly busy creating and inventing. I would create things out of whatever materials were available.
My teachers recognized the potential, and I can still recall one incident from second grade.
My mother was suddenly called up to a school meeting, much to my dismay. She was informed there that her daughter has a strong sense of creativity, which should be nurtured and encouraged.
As far as my mother was concerned, this was the end of the story. She had other concerns.
For me it was only the beginning.
My curiosity and passion led me to want to learn and experience more.
By the age of 12 I knew already that my purpose was art, but the struggle was to get the support.
As the objections increased, so did my confidence and determination.
When I finally got into art school, I knew I was in the right place.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a multidisciplinary artist with a passion for exploring the topic of representation. Born in Poland and raised in Israel, I now reside in South Florida where I work as a resident artist, instructor, and mentor at Studio 18 Art Complex in Broward County. My academic background includes the study of fine art in both Israel and Italy, where I earned my BFA from the esteemed Brera Academy of Arts in Milan.
My family history is quite complicated, and for many years I avoided dealing with it. I realized we can’t escape our personal histories, and mine was infiltrating my work all the time. Even when I was painting flowers, my past was reflected in them.
I started telling my story three years ago, during Covid, when we were first isolated.
Because my studio was closed at the time and I didn’t have all of my materials with me, I started improvising while working from home.
I had many cigar boxes, since my husband enjoys cigars, I thoroughly cleaned those boxes, and turned them into small books, each with its own story.
I used an image transfer technique and mixed media, to transfer my family images into the boxes, combining Polish traditional tapestry and overlapping images.
Once I started, I couldn’t stop.
For the last three years “The Memory Project” has been the core of my research. My artwork is characterized by a deep interest in the themes of time and memory, particularly in the ways that our personal and collective memories can be shaped and reshaped over time. I employ a variety of mediums, including installations and 2D works, with innovative use of materials, space, and scale. The viewers are invited to engage with memory, exploring the complexities of how we remember and what we choose to forget, challenging us to question our assumptions about the past and present, and to embrace the fluidity of memory.
In 2020, 2021, and 2022, I was awarded The CIP Grant, and The Artist Support Grant from The Broward County Cultural Division, for my “Memory Project” research, resulting in three personal exhibitions.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I’m sure you’re aware of the difficulties and pitfalls that come with being an artist. When I first started, there was no Internet communication or information available, so I certainly didn’t know enough about art and being an artist.
The only thing that truly guided me was my inner voice and intuition telling me that this is my vocation! Later, my artistic career was constantly interrupted, which may have happened to make me realize that this is my true calling and that I should focus on it, which I did.
Persistence is the first thing I would recommend.
The completion of your training years, whether through an academy, university, private courses, or another combination, is only the beginning of your journey. As an artist, you never stop learning. Experiment with different art genres, work every day, find your community, show your work, and solicit feedback from artists you admire. Accept criticism, whether positive or negative. The more you learn, the more you realize how much more there is to learn.
That is the allure of art, and it requires a curious mind as well as a keen eye and personality.
How much effort and frustration you are willing to put into your art will determine how much better you become as an artist.
As you advance in your career, be humble and generous in sharing your knowledge.
Everyone has a role to play, and helping others is satisfying and rewarding in a variety of ways.
There is so much more to say, and I began writing a newsletter over a year ago in which I offer advice, share insights, and discuss my own artistic journey as well as the accomplishments of my students.
I invite you to sign up for my newsletter on my website, to learn more and receive it once every six weeks via email.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
As I previously stated, my Memory Project has evolved into a comprehensive exhibition, incorporating new pieces and materials. It resulted in my third personal exhibition that opened last July 2022 at The Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery, titled “The Memory Catcher”. The intensive exhibition preparation took nearly a year.
Seeing all the parts connect in one space was a real treat. Everything I imagined became a reality right before my eyes.
Observing the viewers connect on so many levels was both exciting and emotional. Some of the pieces were interactive installations, in which viewers actively participated by opening drawers, moving boxes, or taking out parts, to see different or additional images. The project combined visual and visceral experiences for attendees.
During the exhibition’s preparations, people were encouraged to send me an image of a precious object or toy they had as children. I dedicated a wall space to people’s treasures and taped the photos together, creating a massive “scrapbook” of photographs from various cultures and eras. Visitors were delighted to discover themselves as part of the exhibition, connecting even more and contributing to the creation of art and memories.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yochiyakiravin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yochiyakiravin
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yochiyakir
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/yochiyakiravin
- Other: http://www.yochiyakiravin.com/email-newsletter
Image Credits:
Yochi Yakir-Avin
