The short film Studio Visit with Nitzan Mintz is available to watch at the top of the page.
Nitzan Mintz, an esteemed visual poet, has breathed life into the walls of Tel Aviv, adorning them with her captivating autobiographical poetry. Drawing from the rhythmic heartbeat of public life, Mintz’s artistry finds a strong foundation in the urban landscape. Her work is not only a testament to her intrinsic bond with her hometown but also reflects the constant evolution of both herself and the city that cradles her creativity.
At the core of Mintz’s poetry lies an intimate exploration of the human condition. She boldly illuminates personal struggles and social issues, forming a raw and introspective narrative. These profound poems subsequently serve as the framework for her visual expressions.
In her artwork, Mintz adeptly combines fragments from the public sphere, industrial elements, paint, and letter stencils. As she crafts her public art, Mintz’s deep understanding of her environment comes to the fore. She thoughtfully considers each location’s historical narrative, natural aura, and visual attributes. This process infuses her work with a profound sense of place, rendering each piece as a vibrant microcosm that beautifully encapsulates the spirit and history of its surroundings.
Mintz often joins forces with her life partner and renowned graffiti artist, Dede, in her artistic journey. Their collaborative creations have etched a unique artistic signature across a myriad of global cities, including New York, Miami, Montreal, London, Paris, Prague, Vienna, and Berlin. Each shared project amplifies their joint vision, harmoniously melding with the cultural and historical narratives of the locales they touch.
In the accompanying video, Mintz delves into her preference for creating under the cloak of night. Despite the inherent challenges, the quiet solitude of the nocturnal hours offers her an intimate haven for creativity. Intriguingly, this unconventional practice has also fostered significant interactions with often marginalized communities, such as the homeless and sex workers. These poignant encounters further enhance Mintz’s comprehension of the myriad facets of the human experience, thus enriching her narrative and infusing her artistry with an additional layer of depth.
Nitzan Mintz disrupts the traditional confines of poetry, transforming the public sphere into a dynamic canvas for her verses. Her work presents passersby with a feast for the senses and an emotionally resonant encounter with her evocative written word. In doing so, she immerses her audience within a pulsating, ever-evolving urban tapestry, leaving an unforgettable mark on the city she calls home.
The featured video Studio Visit with Nitzan Mintz is part of the web series Yotsrim by Shachaf Dekel. Yotsrim includes five seasons and 73 episodes. The series won the Best Documentary award at the NYC Web Fest in 2019.
