The short film Studio Visit with Philip Rantzer is available to watch at the top of the page.
“In my perspective, am a sculptor,” artist Philip Rantzer declares, a multidisciplinary master who deftly wields readymades, collage, painting, sculpture, and assemblage in his creative arsenal. His studio is a maze of wooden pieces, boxes, and varied objects. Stepping into his creative space is akin to delving into a long-forgotten attic in an ancient house, offering a peek into the turbulent inner universe of one of Israel’s most esteemed artists and a recipient of the Ministry of Culture’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Fine Art. We invite you to get an intimate glimpse into his studio and his creative process through the exclusive video featured in this article.
Rantzer’s body of work extends his life story through a symbolic narrative. His experiences as a refugee child from Romania manifest in his wheel-driven sculptures laden with boxes. These eclectic installations become self-portraits, each box symbolizing different facets of his multifaceted persona. With artful finesse, Rantzer spans complex terrains, skillfully addressing themes of migration, integration struggles, cultural assimilation, and the nostalgic requiem for the past. His bold approach disrupts static perceptions, sparking an interactive dialogue with the viewers rather than a passive inspection of his work.
In the accompanying video, Rantzer ascribes the evolution he has observed in his recent work and his creative journey. His narrative and interpretation of his work provide an unparalleled exploration into the mind of this exceptional artist, inviting us to appreciate the depth and relevance of his creative process.
The featured video Studio Visit with Philip Rantzer 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.
