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An in-depth conversation with award-winning sculptor and installation artist Zadok Ben-David, whose practice spans delicate miniature work to large-scale public installations. From his early beginnings in Yemen and Israel to representing his country at the Venice Biennale, Zadok shares the philosophical and practical journey behind his internationally acclaimed work. Discover how he transforms metal into poetic metaphors exploring human nature, evolution, and our relationship with the natural world (and how one installation changed a stranger's life forever).

Key insights from this episode:

• The path from abstract expressionism at St Martin's School of Art to creating massive figurative installations

• How 30,000 hand-painted flowers became one of the world's most travelled installations and the team of assistants who helped create them

• Behind the scenes of installing work across five continents, from prisoners in Germany to 70 assistants in Uzbekistan

• The commercial strategy that funds large-scale installations through smaller original works

• Why Zadok turned down a $1 million public art commission to maintain artistic integrity

• The profound moment when his Blackfield installation helped a Holocaust survivor find hope again

Zadok Ben-David is based in London and Portugal. You can find out more about his work on his website https://www.zadokbendavid.com/ and follow him on Instagram @zadokstudio https://www.instagram.com/zadokstudio/

Exhibition “FLOWERS. Art from the Renaissance to Artificial Intelligence” in Rome until 22 February 2026: https://www.chiostrodelbramante.it/post_mostra/flowers-flowers-art/

03:27 Work-Life Balance Insights

06:15 Journey to Art and Family Influence

09:17 Art School Challenges and Triumphs

10:19 Moving to London and Early Struggles

15:15 Discovering Sculpture and Teaching

21:06 First Installations

25:17 Animal Metaphors in Art

34:25 Global Exhibitions and Unique Experiences

38:23 Commercial Aspects of Art

40:33 People I Saw, But Never Met

44:58 Art Installations Around the World

48:58 The Other Side of Midnight

54:44 Challenges in Art Installations

01:04:37 The Healing Power of Art

01:11:40 Upcoming Exhibitions and Contact Information

Also mentioned in this episode:

Anish Kapoor: https://anishkapoor.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/dirty_corner/

Jerusalem Art Academy: https://www.bezalel.ac.il/en | https://www.instagram.com/bezalel_academy | @bezalelacademyofartanddesi1460

University of Reading: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ | https://www.instagram.com/uniofreading/ | @UniofReading

Chelsea College of Arts:

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In this bonus episode, host Anastasia Parmson explores what it really means to approach residencies as an installation artist. Beyond the logistics of time, space, and materials, we dive into bigger questions that shape the medium:

• How to make large-scale, site-specific work in short timeframes and unfamiliar contexts?

• What happens when you choose temporary or fragile materials instead of archival ones?

• Is the value of installation art in the object, the process or the audience experience?

• Could installation art be considered disposable or should we always aim for permanence?

Drawing from a recent experimental residency at DRAW Space in Sydney, Anastasia reflects on the challenges of working fast, improvising with cardboard and collaborating with others. But more importantly, you’ll be invited to consider your own approach to residencies, materials, and the long-term value of installation art.

Whether you’re an installation artist or simply curious about how these questions play out in practice, this episode offers insights and provocations designed to spark discussion.

00:00 Introduction and Listener Review

01:54 Invitation to Draw Space Residency

03:47 Challenges and Initial Thoughts

06:10 Execution and Community Involvement

08:21 Building the Installation

12:01 Final Touches and Open Day

15:43 Reflections on the Experiment

24:49 Conclusion and Future Plans

Did this episode raise questions or spark ideas?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, stories, or residency experiences:

• Leave a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/installationartpodcast

• Send a DM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/installationartpodcast/

• Use the contact form: https://installationartpodcast.com/contact

Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/installationartpodcast

Also mentioned in this epsisode:

DRAW Space: https://drawspace.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/drawspacesydney

Mentioned in this episode:

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An enlightening conversation with celebrated Danish artist Uffe Isolotto. Discover his journey from growing up in a remote town in Denmark to being selected to represent his country at the prestigious Venice Biennale.

Learn how Uffe balances work and life, the nuances of his collaborative process, and his unique approach to installation art.

Key insights include:

• The role of music and collaboration in his creative process.

• Uffe’s early inspirations and how he evolved from poetry to visual art.

• The logistics and challenges of creating large-scale immersive installations and collaborating with other artists and craftsmen.

• Behind-the-scenes about preparing for the Venice Biennale and the unexpected aftermath.

• Future projects and Uffe’s interest in film and world-building as part of his artistic practice.

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of Isolotto’s process and his innovative approach to contemporary installation art.

You can follow Uffe on Instagram at @uffeisolotto https://www.instagram.com/uffeisolotto/ and learn more about his installation for the Danish Pavilion at Venice Biennale at @wewalkedtheearth https://www.instagram.com/wewalkedtheearth

04:47 Journey into Art and Education

10:07 First Major Projects and Public Art

12:34 Venice Biennale Experience

15:57 Collaborations and Challenges

18:19 Creative Process and World Building

28:04 Skills and People Management

30:49 Exploring Hyperrealistic Sculpture

31:30 Post-Venice Reflections

33:14 Venturing into Filmmaking

37:40 Artistic Practice and Longevity

44:49 Funding and Challenges

54:52 Advice for Young Artists

58:04 Current Projects and Future Plans

PS: We ran into a few technical issues during the recording of this episode, which means a small section of the conversation didn’t make it into the final cut and the audio isn’t perfect throughout. We appreciate your understanding.

Also mentioned in this episode:

NTS Radio: https://www.nts.live/ | https://www.instagram.com/nts_radio/ | @NTSLIVEUK

Danish Art Foundation: https://www.kunst.dk/english/about-us | https://www.instagram.com/statenskunstfond/

Thomas Foldberg: https://thomasfoldberg.dk/ | https://www.instagram.com/thomas_foldberg_studio/

Lars Von Trier: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001885/ | https://www.instagram.com/larsvontrier_/

Soft Baroque: https://softbaroque.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/soft_baroque/

Anne Sofie Madsen: https://www.instagram.com/annesofiemadsenstudio/

Carlsberg Foundation: https://www.carlsbergfondet.dk/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/carlsbergfondet/ | @Carlsbergfondet1876

Simon Starling: https://www.contemporaryartlibrary.org/artist/simon-starling-14184

Den Frie: https://denfrie.dk/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/denfrie.cph/

Holstebro Kunstmuseum: https://en.holstebrokunstmuseum.dk/ | https://www.instagram.com/holstebrokunstmuseum/

The Installation Art Podcast is a show about people who love and work with the contemporary art medium of installation. The host Anastasia Parmson, an artist herself, interviews internationally renowned artists and arts workers about the intricacies and behind-the-scenes stories of creating and...