Plant lovers hate to see weeds in their plants. But this brand capitalised on the strength of lantana weeds and used them to make innovative lighting fixtures. Gaurav Rai, Owner, Oorjaa, throws light on his brand and how his team of designers convert a weed into wonderful lights… Tell us about your brand Oorjaa and what makes your lights so special? Oorjaa uses lantana to design lights. Lantana is a weed, an ornamental flower, grown in the forests of the Nilgiri belt in India. This weed has caused animal and human conflict in the region where it grows. Due to its expansiveness, animals are not able to move through the jungles. They also make the jungles dense and because of which, animals come into human conflict. Oorjaa works with non-governmental organisations and tribals in the region to de-weed lantana weeds and use them to design lights. How are these weeds used? These weeds come in the form of sticks. After we source these weeds, we remove their thorns and boil the sticks in hot water. Once they get boiled, they become softer. It then becomes easy to bend and mould them into different shapes and structures. That’s how we skull interesting designs and lighting fixtures out of them. Why did you choose lantana as your go-to material? Not many people know but almost 40% of India’s forests are infested with lantana. They hamper the biodiversity of the area. Lantana weeds create problems for animals, especially elephants, who are not able to eat this weed. Since their sticks have thorns on them, they curtail the movement of elephants and cause scratches on their skin. Lantana is also a hard weed, which makes it a waste material that cannot be fed to animals. We chose it because these flaws make it a sustainable material. It’s a lot more sturdier than bamboo. Bamboo is grown and then its cut, whereas since lantana is a waste material. Since you are using a weed in designing, isn’t there an issue with the product's longevity? Longevity is not a concern. However, these fixtures are best to be kept indoor/semi-indoor (like balconies and other semi-covered areas). We suggest not to place them outside for a long period. This is because they tend to dry up like a stick, which may break them. Lantana has been available in India for a long time. Why are designers exploring this material now? Lantana is a sustainable material. Designers take up sustainable materials when there’s a market for it. People now-a-days are a lot more conscious of what they buy and that’s why there is a market for such products. Besides lantana, what other sustainable materials do you work with? We use banana fibres in lights. We buy these fibres, boil them and make a pulp out of it. We then roll sheets of paper from it. Each sheet of paper is hand-made and hand crushed, which makes it a labour-intensive process.

Adding sugar to your meal is considered unhealthy. But this sweet ingredient does wonders to your skin when used as a scrub. In the era of au naturel, sugar is the best natural ingredient that helps in skin exfoliation. Sugar scrubs off dirt from your pores and helps rejuvenate the skin. This is why, it can be used to create scrubs at home without creating a hole in your pocket. In summers, our skin suffers a lot due to change in weather. Skin problems, acne as well as pigmentation, are at peak. In a bid to save our skin from damage, we run to salons. But do you know that the solution lies in your home? There are DIY scrubs that you can make on your own at home using sugar. Some easy ones to try are: Coffee and sugar scrub Coffee with sugar tastes great and even better when used as a scrub. Coffee helps tighten skin and sugar gently removes dead skin cells and ingrown hair. This scrub also helps lighten the skin tone and get rid of pigmentation. Lemon, honey and brown sugar scrub Not many people know that brown sugar has a natural anti-aging effect on the skin. It does not allow toxins to attack your skin cells, thereby helps in slowing down the ageing process. Combine brown sugar, lemon and honey and massage the mix to your face and neck. Cucumber and sugar scrub Sunburns are quite common during summers. To ease the damage on the skin, blend cucumbers, coconut oil and sugar and apply on your affected area of your body. The antioxidants present in cucumbers help reduce discolouration, thereby rejuvenating the skin, leaving it soft and supple. Kiwi and sugar scrub Skin loses glow during summers due to harmful ultraviolet rays and scorching heat. Kiwi and sugar scrub is a great way to lock moisture in the skin and maintain its glow. Blend kiwi into a paste by removing its skin and add sugar and a few drops of olive oil to the mix. Massage it to your face and neck in circular motion for 2-3 minutes. This scrub will give you a more youthful skin. Olive oil and sugar scrub Sugar also helps in getting rid of dark patches that usually develop on elbows and knees. This problem worsens with time. To overcome embarrassment, apply a paste of olive oil and sugar to your elbows and knees. Massage the area for 2-3 minutes for best results.

Thinking of making your haven heavenly but are unable to keep up with the trends? Shreeya Jagtap, Design Crew Manager, West Elm and Pottery Barn, shares some ongoing and upcoming trends. Home improvement projects can be daunting for homeowners. People find it difficult to keep up with the trends in the fast-changing interior design industry. This keeps them away from experimentation and doing home refurbishment. To ease your pain, A2zoftrends got in conversation with Sheeya Jagtap from West Elm and Pottery Barn. Excerpts… Designers love playing with colours. What colours are trending in the upcoming season? The upcoming season will see a mix of neutral tones with a statement piece. Neutral colours with one accent piece in olive or navy or a bold statement piece will be stand out. Let’s say, if your sofa is neutral, you can put a bold embroidered accent cushion on it. What are the trending fabrics of the season and how are customers responding to them? From what we seen so far from customers’ standpoint, they want a bit of character to the fabrics. They no longer want to purchase flat fabrics. Texture-based selection is in demand. A lot of duplex and tulle will trend in the upcoming season. Earlier size of a room was taken into consideration while designing. But now, designers ignore proportions. What’s your take? Customers these days are now open to ideas. With Instagram becoming the medium to explore interior design tips and trends, people are getting more open to a maximalist design sense instead of the traditional classic forms. That’s why revamping a room according to size is no longer an issue. Even though your room is small, no one can stop you to put a blue wallpaper or a green ceiling centrepiece. One classic trend that remains valid this season is… A mid-century contemporary trend is an evergreen trend. So, wood finishes like accon finish or smoke wood finish will go well with any trend. How can wall art accentuate the look of a room? People are spending a lot on giving their walls the right look. One thing that they are investing in is art. If you are investing in art, make sure to add a nice frame to the wall art instead of focusing on its price. A framed artwork can easily add a unique look to your walls.

The actor has acted in more than 100 films and television serials. She is remembered for her role in Hum Log and Dekh Bhai Dekh aired on Doordarshan. If you are a 90s kid, you would have surely seen actor Sushma Seth on Doordarshan. Who can forget her as Sarla Diwan in Dekh Bhai Dekh or daadi in Hum Log and even Mrs Dharamadhikari in Vansh? Seth was one of the few actors to play a variety of roles – ranging from a grandmother to wife, sister and mother – despite her young age. After completing a teachers training diploma in home science, a science diploma as well as Bachelor of Fine Arts, this veteran actor pursued acting. And, in 1950s, she started performing as stage actor. She performed in several plays such as All the King's Men, Hotel Paradiso, The Little Hut, Saleeb Per Mariam, Taming of the Shrew, etc. In 1964, she started a Delhi-based theatre group ‘Yatrik’ as a co-founder. With this feat, she turned into an actor-cum-director. While being busy in production and acting, she also started a platform to involve children in theatre. In the 1970s, she founded the Children's Creative Theatre. The theatre was involved in making plays such as Make Him Smile, Sitara, Alan and King's Daughters and Little Women, to name a few. While being busy with production and theatre, Seth also turned to films. In 1978, she made her debut with Junoon. She later worked with several prominent actors of the Hindi film industry, including Rishi Kapoor, Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan. Seth’s contributions to TV, films and theatre have been exceptional. This is one of the reasons that the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) is applauding the works of this actor and conferring her with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The actor will be felicitated during the award ceremony on March 29 at Kamani Auditorium in the national capital.

Actor-cum-writer and director Satish Kaushik passed away due to a heart attack in Gurugram early Thursday morning. Here’s a look at his versatile career. It’s rare to see an actor getting into the shoes of a director and writer. Satish Kaushik set a benchmark in this category. Born on 13 April 1956 in Mahendragarh, Haryana, Kaushik’s journey in acting started soon after he joined the Kirori Mal College, Delhi University. He participated in several plays at the college’s theatre society ‘Players’. It was here he realised his love for acting. So after completing his graduation, he joined the National School of Drama and the Film and Television Institute of India, where he pursued a course in acting. Mumbai calling In 1980, Kaushik moved to Mumbai. He got his first break as an actor in 1981 in Chakra that starred Naseeruddin Siddiqui and Smita Patil. Though he was recognised as an actor since his release, he didn’t shy away to try his hand as a writer. In 1983, he wrote the dialogues of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. The film later became a cult classic. The same year, he acted in some of the best films like Woh Saat Din, Masoom, Mandi and Saagar, among others. Big break In 1987, Kaushik joined the cast of Mr India. His role as ‘Calendar’ in Shekhar Kapur’s film garnered him fame like never before. The film won him love from all walks of life and the actor was soon recognised as ‘Calendar’ in Bollywood. Debut as a director In 1993, Kaushik was up for another experiment - donning a director’ hat. He turned director for Sridevi and Anil Kapoor in Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja. He also gave several actors their big break in Bollywood. Among them were Tabu in Prem (1999), Tusshar Kapoor in Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai (2001) and Bhumika Chawla in Tere Naam (2003). He continued his journey as a director till 2021. His last film as a director was Pankaj Tripathi, Vijay Kumar and Mita Vashisht-starrer Kaagaz (2021). Turned David Dhawan’s muse Kaushik was a prominent face in David Dhawan’s films. His comic timing was at par with other comedians of the Hindi cinema. This is what made him the perfect ingredient in Dhawan’s rib-tickling comedies. Kaushik lived up to his name and proved his mettle. His role in Saajan Chale Sasural (Mutthu Swamy), Deewana Mastana (Pappu Pager), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (Sharafat Ali), Mr. & Mrs. Khiladi (Chanda Mama) and Haseena Maan Jaayegi (Kunj Bihari) was nothing short of remarkable. Being Bollywood’s baddie Kaushik’s versatility wasn’t limited to his skills, but also in terms of the characters that he played on the screen. During the 90s and 2000s, most of the films explored his softer and comic timing, but audiences saw a different side of Kaushik in negative roles. Be it his screen role as Tayaji in Udta Punjab or Manu Mundra in Scam 1992, an ever-so-smiling Kaushik proved his versatility as an actor. Unreleased works Kaushik’s death has been an untimely one. The actor was shooting several films. Among them is Kangana Ranaut-directed Emergency, where he was set to play Jagjivan Ram, the late defence minister. He was also working on a big budget period drama about legendary singer Tansen. Besides this, he was also working to promote Haryana's film industry.

Artist Viraj Khanna carved a niche in art in his debut show at the India Art Fair 2023 being showcased at the Tao Art Gallery booth. But instead of experimenting with paints, pencils, chalk or ink, he used India’s traditional textiles and embroideries in his artworks. A2zoftrends spoke to the artist and learnt more about his artworks, inspiration behind them and the different techniques he used in the process. Experimentation is the key in art. Yet only a few artists are able to think out of the box. Artists generally play with mediums but seldom do they blend indigenous textiles. Viraj Khanna’s showcase featured that ‘it’ factor. He collaborated with indigenous karigars of Kolkata and showcased a collection using beads, thread work, zari, aari and zardozi. Viraj took inspiration from his mother, ace fashion designer Anamika Khanna, who focuses on heavy embroidery. However, instead of using these textiles as a wearable fabric, he weaved the different embroideries on cotton and linen. We spoke to the artist and learnt more about his art. The following are the excerpts… 1. When did you first thought of using textiles on canvas? How did the thought occurred? Before my first show, my gallerist from Kolkata, Somak Mitra, had suggested that I stay away from textile at least initially in order to keep my identity as an artist and as a fashion entrepreneur separate. This was a great suggestion and I followed what he had told me. My second solo show was in Mumbai and I decided to start experimenting with textiles. I put up a few works during the second solo titled ‘What my mother didn’t teach me’ to which I received an overwhelming response. Since that show, I have been continuously experimenting with different techniques of hand embroidery for my work. I think it was natural for me to slowly drift toward textile since that is something I have grown up around. Initially, just to keep the identities separate, I did not showcase any of it. 2. What was the idea behind the artworks showcased at the India Art Fair 2023? For the India Art Fair, since I was one of the focus artists, I wanted to showcase various different techniques of hand embroidery and how these techniques could be used totally differently to reflect on different things that I wanted to portray. I wanted to take a medium that has been used since generations in a certain way and give it a contemporary spin. Therefore, I used different materials that represent different energies to me and created figurative works. Some of them were 3D with fabric stuffing. I also wanted to merge different mediums and therefore, I created a sculpture which was combined with threads and embroidery to create an installation. 3. Tell us about the materials that you used in these artworks and from where did you source them? I used a variety of different materials in all the works. The main installation consisted of a fibreglass sculpture with acrylic paint on it. It was mixed with rope which was dyed in different colours that formed the means to create the sort of ‘pulling’ effect. The textile work on the wall for the sculpture installation consisted of acrylic paint, different embroidery techniques and different fabrics. For the other textile works on the wall, different techniques, such as ari and zardosi, were used with various different materials like resham, bead, sequins, thread, stone, sticks, metal thread, etc. 4. Please explain the process of creating these artworks. I always begin any artwork by creating a paper collage. I cut out various different elements from different magazines and started gluing them together to create different contemporary figures. This forms the blueprint for anything that I create thereafter. The collage is used to then draw the khakha - which is a tracing paper required for hand embroidery - and the khakha is pasted on the fabric to create structures. The embroidery happens then on these structures. If I want to create a sculpture, the process is very similar. I will create the figure using a paper collage and then turn them into a sculpture. 5. How challenging was it to use these materials on the canvas? Why do you think artists refrain from using them? Initially the karigars were quite uncomfortable doing the work since this was totally different from what they were used to. One karigar mentioned how the people in his village were unwilling to do the work since they got scared (I was getting an alligator embroidered). It was interesting to see their initial resistance and discomfort but then their quick adaptation to different ideas and concepts. Also, it is a very time consuming process and it is very expensive. Since I am trying to use all these techniques in a different manner, there is a lot of trial and error all the time. All the karigars are not skilled in the same manner; everyone is good at certain techniques and not as good in others. The right balance of karigars has to be found. 6. There is an interplay of colours and textures in your artworks. How do you decide the composition? Different materials represent different energies to me. Depending on what I am trying to depict, I choose different materials and elements. For example, sequins represent extravagance, etc. since it is glittery and simple thread is more subtle. When I do my work, I am thinking about people in my life and their behaviours and perceptions. If they are extravagant or subtle or simple or anything else, I use different materials to create the figurative works, depending on what I feel. Therefore, the composition depends on what I am trying to portray. 7. What was the idea behind the sculpture piece that you showcased at the art fair? I wanted to mix around two mediums of sculpture and textile. The idea was to create something very contemporary using age-old techniques of embroidery. The sculpture with a done up face and exaggerated features is a figure that I keep working with as it represents our times. I wanted to create a figure/superhero/ that reflects on society now. Then the ropes are like chains pulling out of a textile which consists of another layer. This idea was a play around the perceptions we are always trying to create. 8. What did the strings in the sculpture symbolise? The strings symbolised a connection between the different layers that we have as human beings. The different perceptions we are always creating, the different faces we put on all the time depending on circumstance and the influence of society on every human being. 9. Who has been your inspiration in art? There are a few artists I really enjoy and follow: Hannah Hoch, Faig Ahmed, Dana Schutz, Suhasini Kejriwal, T Venkanna, Sohrab Hura, etc. 10. Now that the India Art Fair is over, what next is in the pipeline? Nothing is planned as of now! I am going to keep experimenting with the medium for the time being. I am still settling down from all the shows so far, haha!

Meet Gaurav Ogale, who uses Apple iPad Pro to narrate stories of ordinary people using illustrations and sounds. Indian artists are trying new and creative ways to bring out refreshing ideas. The newest edition is the use of Apple iPad Pro to create artworks. Pune-born artist Gaurav Ogale created a series of six audio visual immersive works using the same technique. He titled them as 'Best Sellers'. His works were showcased at the recently-concluded India Art Fair. Explaining his work, he says, “I wanted to relook the idea of how we perceive bestsellers in a book store. Normally when we see bestsellers, we look at biographies of famous people. But I brought out the stories of ordinary people. This is because the theme of this year’s art fair was to look out for extraordinary in the ordinary.” Ogale combined drawing, videos and photographs to narrate stories within a short span of 15 seconds. He used Photoshop, ProCreate and Adobe Premier Pro (video software) on iPad Pro. He juxtaposed ordinary sounds on the stories to allow viewers to be a part of the featured individuals' lives. How it all began? Ogale started the process by writing the stories. He then added several design elements to them and played around with its layering and composition. He finally added sound to the images, which is a representation of the daily chores these people did in their lives. Ogale was a part of the two and a half month-long ‘Digital artists in residence’ programme organised by Apple. The programme allowed him to work remotely. When asked how Apple's team helped him, he says, “Everything we brainstormed together – right from the concept to its production. We also did software workshops with the Apple team." He explains the format of making his works similar to that used in animated films. However, he calls it as a completely self-evolved medium. “The best thing about these works is that you can flip pages like a book and hear their voices. I did not refer to anything. It's a genre that I am still exploring. I like how visual, sound and drawing can come together,” he says. Ogale was formally trained as a filmmaker. However, he never made commercial films. He always had an inclination towards drawing and illustration. This led him to explore the world of advertising, where he combined his practice of making illustrations and converting them into moving images. In his recent showcase as well, he has used illustrations and converted them into moving images. Who can explore this medium? Though the technique is relatively new in nature, Ogale feels that anyone who has an inclination in art can create art using an iPad. “With Apple iPad Pro, it’s so easy. It has the Apple pencil. You can put your subject on the canvas and start creating. You can cut objects, copy them, draw on them and even use animation. It's everything that you can carry with you in your bag and walk around,” he shares. Though the process is simple, the technique of audio-visual storytelling is a time-consuming task. For a 10-15 seconds film, Ogale dedicated four to five weeks on a story. “It's time consuming because it is too immersive. A lot of thought goes into brainstorming (the ideas), production and layering,” he clarifies.

Israeli artists Maya Gelfman and Roie Avidan’s ongoing exhibition is an attempt to make people mindful of their surroundings. Being mindful is an art. But Israeli artists Maya Gelfman and Roie Avidan create mindfulness and the idea of being present through their art. The duo have been creating public art since 2020, where they use surroundings (and sometimes words) to capture the moment instead of focusing on the subjects featured in the frame. An image shot in a small town in Missisippi is the perfect example. In the photo, Avidan captured Gelfman who stood in front of a laundry store’s wall. The image might look as the one clicked in natural surroundings but Avidan reveals that it became important as it resonated with their thoughts. “We clicked this picture while waiting for our laundry to dry. We were there in the town during winters and it was a ghost town. All places were closed. Our thoughts while living in the town resonated with the moment we were living - we didn’t know where we would end and where the life would take us to,” he shares. Fourteen such images are a part of a series ‘Bodies of Work’, being showcased at Gallery ONKAF, New Delhi, till March 3. Supported by the Embassy of Israel, these works are a part of the ‘Mind the Heart! Project’. Reuma Mantzur, Cultural Attache, Embassy of Israel, who chose these works, liked the artists’ delicate take on the street art. “These works break the boulders or limits of the medium. The artists have mixed art with life. Though they are a part of street art, they are so delicate and aesthetically appealing. Normally, street art is connected to graffiti, which is more aggressive. But these works are different from traditional works and that’s why it was important for the embassy to support these artists,” she adds. The ensemble features eight large photos and six small ones captured over a course of four years. The large photos were a part of the Serendipity Experiment and the rest were shot in India on an iPhone as part of the artists’ preliminary works in Mumbai and Delhi. Sharing the idea behind these photos, Avidan says, “In 2017, we wanted to take the idea of mindfulness and being present to maximum audiences. So, we invented the ‘Serendipity Experiment’, where we kept ourselves as subjects. It is our way of acknowledging that we are just any other element in the composition and the situation is the art.” How it all started? The duo’s journey as artists started very humbly with only two suitcases, very little money and a free mind. It all began when they moved from Israel to the US. They decided that for a year, they won’t let their preconceived notions come in their way of creating art. Both artists successfully took varied art projects – from installations to mural art, among others, without any prejudices. Though they wanted to take this artistic way of life for a year, it continued for four years. By 2020, they have done several art projects outside galleries and museums. But when asked why they focus on projects outside galleries and museums, apt came the reply, “We are able to find beauty outside galleries and museums, irrespective of how chaotic a place can look. Even when we did murals or small things, it was always about the place and the specific experience that is there.”

The artist used discarded refrigerator compressors to tell a tale around human faces. Ever since his childhood, artist Narayan Sinha was quite upfront about his thoughts. Born in Birbhum, Nalhati in West Bengal, he didn't knew what being politically correct meant and that a face represents multiple faces. But things changed when he moved to Kolkata. With the taste of urban life, he realised there is so much of façade. “I loved the human touch that I received in Kolkata but somewhere I was lost. I realised that people wore multiple faces. They say something and do something else. It was impossible to decipher someone’s thoughts,” he says. This thought led him to create an artwork ‘Faces’ that he recently showcased at the India Art Fair 2023. He used discarded refrigerator compressors, which he sourced from different cities, to tell a tale around human faces. He explains, “There are 105 masks in this artwork. I used refrigerator compressors as the base of the artwork and faux fur, wood, rubber and copper as other materials.” Though there is symmetry in his work, making the artwork wasn’t a cakewalk. The artist agrees that sourcing the material was a tedious task. “The compressors were collected over a period of time. I was in touch with scrap dealers and garage owners in Calcutta, Delhi and Ahmedabad. Though I sourced most of the materials, I also sculpted some as per my need,” he shares. After collecting the materials, Sinha cleaned them for their final use. Though Sinha’s journey as an artist started in the year 2000 with watercolours, he realised his inclination towards metals due to his family business. “I think it was my father’s automobile business that led me to this path. Being an artist, I wanted to connect with my father’s work. I am glad to find the language of using scrap metal and it has now become my world,” he shares. Sinha has also been a regular participant at the India Art Fair. But his participation this year makes him feel ‘complete’ as an artist. “Unlike previous editions, where only one or two works of mine were chosen, I was able to showcase my complete collection this year at the art fair,” he says. Besides ‘Faces’, Sinha showcased five other works using stone, metal and wood. The entire collection was titled as ‘New Leaf’, which were a part of the Iram Art Gallery’s booth.

Yigal Ozeri’s photorealistic artworks diminish the gap between fantasy and reality. The artist is showcasing his works at the Bruno Art Gallery's booth at the India Art fair 2023. There’s something magical about Yigal Ozeri’s artworks. They captivate your mind and diminish the gap between fantasy and reality. Look closely and you will see a man and a woman gazing right into your eyes. Ozeri creates the magic with thin and thick brush stokes to highlight drama. The Israel-born artist focuses on attention to detail. Intricate elements such as hair, lighting, placement of furniture and materials scattered on floor are given importance. Ozeri follows photorealism, a technique in which he uses photographs to paint artworks. He explains it as an idea of hyperrealism, and stresses that it is different from realism. “In realism, the brush strokes are more expressive and abstract. However, I like creating images that are more realistic,” he says. At the ongoing India Art Fair, Ozeri is showcasing portraits as well as landscape pieces created over a span of 10 years. There are two portraits in black and white and one in coloured format. One of them is influenced by American pop artist Chuck Close (in pic on left) and the other captures Ozeri's Indian model friend who lives in Columbia. There is also a portrait of a Rajasthani spiritual man (in pic on right), who his photographer friend had captured in his camera a few years ago. Photorealism began in 1970. During the early years, most artists projected 75mm pictures on walls and made paintings out of them. Photorealism was frozen. “Artists focused on still life paintings,” he says. Over the years, this technique has transformed. Ozeri too relies on photographs but he transfers them to a computer and recreates their image digitally. He then makes some changes to the photograph by either removing or adding different elements to the frame. “This is called erasing photography. I like adding emotions to my works and that’s why I involve human beings. I alter the elements in background to add drama to my pictures,” he shares. In Chuck Close’s portrait, Ozeri followed the same practice. He placed a candle behind the American pop artist to highlight his most intricate facial hair. Likewise, in his works titled ‘Women in nature’, he altered some elements in the background while painting these women. Ozeri’s showcase also includes his latest works ‘Americana’. These paintings focus on the life in New York. “I have tried to capture real people in real moments. This is my way of showing the time I spent in New York City,” he shares. One of the works feature a scene inside a shop at the Times Square station. “This shop was owned by an Indian man and one can see the imperfections in the form of items scattered on the floor,” he says. Ozeri has also captured the beauty of a diner in bold colours. “There’s nothing special about that diner. It is near my house and I photographed it during the pandemic days,” he says. Transition from abstract to photorealism Born in 1958 in Israel, Ozari’s journey in art started as an abstract artist. But at time, artists in Israel were unaware about photorealistic art. It was after he moved to New York, he came across this concept. He then approached a few galleries in Spain, which helped him get familiar to the concept of realism in art. He initially practiced realism and eventually transitioned to photorealism. Since then, there’s been no looking back. Ozeri has already exhibited his works in the U.S., Europe, Mexico, China and Israel.