Nadav Kander

**Artist Biography:** **Born:** December 1, 1961, Tel Aviv, Israel **Career:** Johannesburg, Cape Town (1964 – 1985); London, England (1985 – present) Emerging from a rich tapestry of cultures, the artist’s journey began in Tel Aviv, Israel, where they were born on December 1, 1961. At the tender age of two, a pivotal family decision led them to Johannesburg, Cape Town, seeking new beginnings after their father, a pilot for El Al, faced an unexpected career change. The artist’s earliest memories are vividly marked by the turbulence of a flight from Tel Aviv to Johannesburg, coinciding with their third birthday. Growing up in Cape Town, the artist navigated childhood in a world defined by school uniforms, spirited games of table tennis, and a loyal Dalmatian named Dick. Supporter of Liverpool FC, they earned the playful nickname "Goose," a testament to a Scottish coach’s fondness for wordplay. Family road trips in a quirky avocado green Peugeot 504 became cherished rituals, capturing moments that would later influence the artist’s perspective on life and art. It was during these journeys that the artist was first introduced to the magic of photography, inspired by their father’s enthusiastic slide shows of yearly adventures captured on his Iconoflex camera. At 13, the artist received a Pentax camera as a Bar Mitzvah gift, marking the beginning of a profound relationship with photography. Influenced by the works of iconic photographers such as Edward Weston, Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, and Eugène Atget, they began to see photography as a means of exploring both the external world and their inner landscape. This realization that all subjects are worthy of artistic exploration became a cornerstone of their practice. The artist's teenage years were marked by a keen awareness of the socio-political climate of Cape Town during Apartheid. At 14, a striking newspaper photograph of a starkly divided scene ignited a lifelong commitment to addressing themes of inequality and injustice through their lens. Their early photographic endeavors, though unrefined, echoed a sense of quiet unease that remains integral to their work today. A family trip to at 14 opened the artist’s eyes to a world of cultural vibrancy and diversity, starkly contrasting their experiences in Johannesburg. The allure of an galleries, spurred by the artistic ambitions of their sister Tamar, planted the seeds for a future in the arts. Despite a tumultuous relationship with formal education, the artist’s life took a decisive turn following a serious motorcycle accident at 17. This incident catalyzed a shift from reckless pursuits to a focused dedication to photography. Completing mandatory National Service in the Air Force, they honed their skills in a darkroom, solidifying their identity as a lens-based artist. In 1985, a new chapter unfolded as they relocated to London, where they reunited with Nicole Verity, the love of their life. Their journey together has included years of creative collaboration and the joy of raising three children, Oren, Ella, and Talia, in a nurturing London home. The artist’s family continues to inspire their work: their late father, Jacob, lived in the U.S. until his passing, while their mother, Jenny, a poet and radio producer, creates whimsical dolls that mirror her likeness. Tamar, the artist’s sister, also thrives in the art world, represented by multiple galleries across the United States, married to ceramicist Jamas Brooke. Through a lens deeply rooted in personal history and social consciousness, this artist crafts a narrative that invites viewers to engage with the complexities of identity, memory, and the human experience.