Art’s inspired reflection

OLGA LIVSHIN

“I have hundreds of ideas but not enough time to realize them all. I think about my art 24 hours a day,” said Albert Tabi, whose exhibition of 25 digital illustrations, Life from the Right Angle, opened on Jan. 12 at the Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery. This is the artist’s first show since he moved from Israel in 2005.

Of the name of his show, Tabi said, “It’s not because only my angle is ‘right.’ Everybody observes life from a different angle; everybody has a unique way of looking at the world. This is mine and it’s subjective…. I [have] always looked at situations differently. Since I was a kid, people often misunderstood me. Now, as an artist, I have a way to express myself, to communicate.”

Tabi explores even the gravest circumstances with irreverence and humor, inviting viewers to share a chuckle with him. “Absurd, weird in any situation always makes me laugh. No matter if the others think it’s serious. If I don’t laugh at my artwork, it’s no good. But if there is a combination of serious and fun, then I feel complete,” he told the Jewish Independent in an interview at the gallery.

The illustrations on the gallery walls prove his point, inspiring contemplation even as they appear deceptively simple, almost cartoon-like.

Tabi approaches his subjects from an original point of view, frequently contradicting established doctrines. For example, his “Couple” is a visual joke about technology. Without being didactic, Tabi shows how technology can pull us apart, dominating our lives. In the image, two people are sitting at a great distance from each other, each absorbed in their laptops, divided by the screens. Even the dog under the table has a laptop – no companionship there.

“I’m a conceptual artist,” Tabi said. “I look at a situation, a concept, as if it was a balloon. It’s huge, inflated. I pierce it with a needle, and it becomes the right size…. My art is not about a landscape or flowers. I use esthetics to deliver ideas. Of course, there’re nuances, emotional undertones, but they serve the goal, not parade by themselves. Art should force you to think.”

He pointed to “Conceptual Art,” the title piece of the show, a gently teasing representation of the Zack Gallery. “See, people don’t pay attention to the art. They look where the arrows point. They follow instructions…. There are lots of similar preconceptions around, and people base their actions on those preconceptions.”

But not Tabi, it seems. When the artist tackles his themes, he ridicules common biases. For example, his illustration “Peace Contest” reflects another reality, as he sees it. “Usually it’s called a peace conference, not a contest, but what’s really happening at those conferences? All over the world, they don’t talk about peace. It’s not real, just for show,” he said. In this illustration, small digital gadgets fence with swords over a chasm. The bottom of the chasm is littered with digital corpses. Above, a banner stretches, festive and deceiving.

Tabi’s artistic endeavors resonate with viewers’ base emotions, including their fears. Tabi turns viewers’ assumptions upside down and takes them apart with humor, however. His series, “Corners,” demonstrates this viewpoint. “People are always afraid what’s behind the corner,” he explained, “but it’s all relative. In this series, I play with cultural signs and symbols.”

Tabi’s creativity is not limited to two-dimensional images. He studied as a sculptor in Israel and worked as a scenic artist and set designer for Israeli theatre. Vancouver’s movie industry has also benefitted from his talent and expertise.

As well, Tabi employs his creativity in his teaching. He taught art in Israel and he gives art lessons here, at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver.

“I enjoy teaching,” he said, describing his methods. “When I teach, I don’t criticize. I help my students to discover their own concepts, to find themselves as artists. I create artists.”

Tabi’s new artistic direction involves wall sculpture. “When I moved here, I was impressed by totem poles,” he said on a visit to his home studio. “I wanted to make them but I’m not native…. I come from a different culture, with different symbolism.” So he created a series of wall sculptures that speculate on the idea of totem poles. He uses kitsch, compiling his stylized “totems on a wall” from various symbols, including ready-made articles and recycled materials. Although none of these sculptures are included in the exhibition, he expects to continue with this new medium for the foreseeable future.

Life from the Right Angle is at the Zack Gallery until Feb. 5. On Jan. 26, 7-9 p.m., the gallery presents An Evening of Poetry and Art, hosted by Bonnie Nish with headliner Barbara Adler (the Fugitives). The evening will challenge poets and spoken-word artists to create and share original works inspired by Tabi’s exhibit. For more information, visit jccgv.com.

Olga Livshin is a Vancouver freelance writer. She can be reached at [email protected].

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