Carmel Ilan’s work is based on a method of work constructed of numerous folded papers erecting from a wooden plate.
Originating in the feminist discourse of the late 20th century, her work responds to traditions of female labor and crafts. Strongly connected to her basic material of paper, she questions the emotional response the material evokes and its contemporary value in an age of digitally archived knowledge.
Her latest development is an interpretation of her original technique, as she currently chooses to exhibit only the photographic representation of her sculptural objects. Replacing material for size value and microscopic vision, she transforms not only the materiality of the works but their physical effect on the viewer.
Carmel Ilan
born 1960, lives and works in Tel Aviv, Israel
Education
2000-2004 BFA, Basis School of Art, graduated with honors
1985-1986 MFA, Parsons School of Art and Design
1980-1984 BFA, Fashion Design, Shenkar College of Engineering and Design
Solo Exhibitions
2020 "Samsāra", Project Space, Braverman Gallery, Tel Aviv; curators: Meital Manor, Daria Kaufmann
2017 "Carmel Ilan", ZK Gallery, San Francisco
2015 "What Does the Letter Know", WIZO Haifa Academy; curator: Micha Krishner
2015 "Materiality Now", Raw Art Gallery, Tel Aviv
2014 "Carmel Ilan", Plaza Gallery, Tokyo, Japan; curator: Raviva Regev
2014 "Paper Field", Wilfrid Museum, Kibbutz Hazorea, Israel; curator: Shir Meller-Yamaguchi
2011 "Carmel Ilan", Triumph Gallery, Moscow, Russia; curator: Dana Gillerman
2009 "Landscapes", Basis School of Art, Herzliya, Israel
2009 "New Works", Raw Art Gallery, Tel Aviv
2007 "No One Nose", Performing Arts Center, Tel Aviv
2005 "Ne’urim", Basis School of Art, Herzliya, Israel
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 Tribute to the Earth - The Israeli version, Artists House, Tel Aviv Curators: Sari Paran and Ilana Carmeli Lanner
2022 ARCOmadrid fair, Al-Tiba9 Contemporary Art Magazine, Madrid
2021 The Jerusalem Biennale, Fifth Edition | North Africa Jewish Heritage Canter, Jerusalem, curator: Vanessa De Loya
2021 HaLOUNGE, Jaffa Museum; curators: Orly Blum, Nitzan Markovits
2021 Lucca Biennale Cartasia, Edition 20, Lucca, Italy; curator: Giacomo Pecchia
2021 HaLOUNGE, Neve Schechter – Home for Contemporary Jewish Culture and Art, Tel Aviv; curators: Orly Blum, Nitzan Markovits
2020 "First Person. Second Nature", Biennial of Arts and Design, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv; curators: Anriata Eliezer Brunner, Yuval Saar
2019 Art Central, Meijler Art, Hong Kong
2018 "Neighbours", Artists House, Tel Aviv
2018 "N17", Zemack Gallery, Tel Aviv
2018 "Pop Porn", Zemack Gallery, Tel Aviv
2018 "French Salon", Zemack Gallery, Tel Aviv
2018 Art Central, Zemack Gallery, Hong Kong
2018 Art Stage Singapore, Zemack Gallery, Singapore
2018 Fresh Paint 10, Zemack Gallery, Tel Aviv
2018 "The Map-Reading Between the Lines", Eretz Israel Museum, TA
2017 Art Miami, Zemack Gallery, Miami Beach
2017 "On the Edge-Israeli Paper", Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv
2017 "Alternative", Zemack Gallery, Tel Aviv
2017 Fresh Paint 9, Zemack Gallery, Tel Aviv
2017 Art Central, Zemack Gallery, Hong Kong
2016 "Colors of Macadam", Macadam Gallery, Belgium; curator: Damian Gard
2015 Art Central, Zemack Gallery, Hong Kong
2015 Tel Aviv Towers, curator: Smadar Sheffi
2015 "Base & Building", Basis School of Art, Herzliya; curator: Shlomit Broyer
2014 "Tabula Rasa", After Gallery, Ma'alot-Tarshiha; curator: Noga Migdal
2014 "Contemporary Paper Art", Jaffe Museum; curator: Paul Jackson
2013 "Kalut HaHomer", Beit Michal Gallery, Rehovot
2013 "Paper Art in Israel 2", Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv; curator: Dr. Sorin Heller
2013 Desert Bloom Paper Biennale, Beit Ha’Amamnim Ba’Negev, Beer Sheva
2012 "Turn the Page", Beit Ha’Amanut Gallery, Mevaseret Zion
2012 Gallery Collection, Raw Art Gallery, Tel Aviv
2011 Fresh Paint 4, Tel Aviv
2011 "In Between", The Wilfrid Museum, Ha’Zorea Kibbuts; curator: Shir Meller Yamaguchi
2010 Heat Wave Catch Gallery Collection, Raw Art Gallery, Tel Aviv
2010 "Neighbors", Corner Park Gallery, Berlin; curator: Reviva Regev
2010 Fresh Paint 3, Tel Aviv
2009 "Woods", The Farm Gallery, Holon; curator: Ayelet Biran
2009 Fresh Paint 2, Tel Aviv
2008 Cultural Center, Petach Tikva
2007 Performing Arts Center, Tel Aviv
2006 "Liga Bait BaNama", Tel Aviv; curator: Galia Yahav
2005 Group Show, Basis Gallery, Beit Yannai