Featured Interview With Chanan Getraide
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I live with my family in Kibbutz Shiller in Israel, where I was born in 1945. I continued my parent’s legacy by staying at the same place as they do. They came to this Kibbutz in 1937 after a last-minute escape from Nazi Germany.
For many years I’ve been documenting the events and lifestyle of the Kibbutz while developing my artistic skills. My work has been focused on photography of the nature landscapes of Israel, industrial environment and the interaction of people with technology. I have presented my work in many galleries in Israel and the United States. I have also lectured on these subjects under the general title “You Create Your Image”. In 2000 I won first prize in the “International Competition for Nature and Landscape Photography” which was held in Israel that year. In 1997 I have authored a book titled “I’ll Take You There” which presents the nature landscapes of Israel. It has become one of the most popular photo books in Israel. Since 2002 I serve as a member of Bezalel Academy of Arts and design- board of trustees in Jerusalem.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
After many years of photography, I felt ready to capture my collection of photographs in a book and have all my ideas about photography follow the pictures. I have a lot to say about photography as a whole and photography in Israel, as well as expressing my thought of my personal photography.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
In addition to photography books of different artist, I find great interest in History and wars of the 20th century. Authors like Hans Fallada, Andrew Nagorski and Paullina Simons are my favorites, as well as classic authors like Ayn Rand (The Fountainhead)
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book “Israel, Photography Paths” summarizes all my art work of the last 3 decades. This album captures the Israeli landscapes, industrial environment, people in their work places, families in different life style, portraits and more. The chapters of text that follow the pictures, tells my thoughts about photography.
Usually people are attached to their environment. I believe that the way I look at natural, as well as agricultural landscape, is influenced by the kibbutz way of life. Where I was born and where I live, the open spaces and cultivated fields I see when I open my window, driving on dusty roads, the way the fields change their colors from season to season, the farming cycle and crop collection schedules. I evoke images from the distant past – manual cotton picking after school, picking potatoes and peanuts out of the earth – and wonder, how did all these images and experiences affect my artwork in the present? Did they somehow pave the way to how I would express myself and create in future years?
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