The artistic practice of Ram Katzir—a Tel Aviv native currently situated in Amsterdam—is defined by an investigation into the dichotomies of the public versus the private, the remembrance of history versus physical location, and the tension between intimacy and detachment. His creative output serves as a continuous pursuit of a sense of rootedness, encompassing both metaphysical and tangible dimensions.
Employing a multidisciplinary approach that spans drawing, sculpture, installation, and public art, Katzir fashions site-specific pieces designed to gently unsettle conventional ways of seeing. There is a recurring interplay of melancholy and wit in his repertoire, a strategy intended to prompt audiences to re-evaluate their surroundings and the historical narratives woven into them.
Katzir reached a significant milestone in his global profile during the late 90s with *Your Coloring Book*, a provocative installation that set juvenile imagery against the backdrop of Third Reich propaganda. This project achieved an extensive international tour across six nations and was subsequently featured in the MoMA exhibition *Open Ends*.
With a formal academic background from New York’s Cooper Union and the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, Katzir has dedicated thirty years to his craft within the spheres of both galleries and the public domain. His portfolio includes over forty permanent installations, often produced in partnership with urban planners, landscape architects, and designers on major international projects throughout Tokyo, Taipei, Osaka, and Shanghai.
His portfolio has been highlighted in a variety of solo showcases at institutions such as the Kyoto Art Center, the Jewish Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Furthermore, his contributions to the global art scene have extended to prestigious events like the Setouchi Triennale and the Shanghai Sculpture Biennale, with his art integrated into diverse public and private holdings across the globe.
www,ftn-books.com has the colouring book from the Stedelijk Museum exhibition 1998 now available.
