On 29 May, we invite you to a screening of a documentary film about the life of the world-renowned Israeli sculptor Dani Karavan, directed by Barak Heymann. We will examine the works of this outstanding artist from his unique, personal perspective, and we will also discuss the phenomenon of his art and its social impact. Dr Monika Rydiger will give an introduction to the film.
29 May 2026, 18.00
On the 5th anniversary of the death of this outstanding artist and humanist, we will present the film “High Maintenance – the Life and Work of Dani Karavant” at the ICC. The record of the artist’s final months was created by Barak Heymann, who adopted the role of a patient listener and observer of the famous artist. Dr Monika Rydiger from the International Cultural Centre’s Exhibition Department will discuss the phenomenon of Karavan’s art and its extraordinary social resonance. The screening will also provide an opportunity to recall the Israeli sculptor’s first exhibition in Poland, presented in 2015 at the International Cultural Centre in Kraków.
A film about Dani Karavan
Dani Karavan was the creator of unique works installed in public spaces and outdoors in Israel, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Japan. As he emphasised, his works were intended to engage in dialogue with their audience. He said that he created for people, to invite them to communicate with their surroundings, the material, memory and themselves. His work was always connected to a place, not only topographically, but also historically and symbolically. Karavan’s works were characterised by a respect for the natural landscape, atmospheric conditions and plant life, which influenced his artistic expression and became an integral part of his works.
In Barak Heymann’s film, one can hear and see Dani Karavan commenting on his works, explaining their details, as well as the contexts and circumstances of their creation. The director creates a portrait of a man who – despite his age – speaks with humour and energy about the reality surrounding him. He does not shy away from difficult topics either, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or Dani Karavan’s unrealised projects.
Exhibition at the ICC – place as a starting point
It was at the ICC that the first Polish exhibition of Dani Karavan’s work took place. The exhibition “Makom. Dani Karavan. The Essence of Place” was on display at the ICC Gallery from 27 June to 20 September 2015. “Makom” means “place” in Hebrew. This word is also the key to understanding Dani Karavan’s work. For the artist, place is the starting point, the inspiration, and at the same time the context and the substance of the work, whether in natural surroundings or in urban, gallery or museum spaces. A unique feature of the Kraków exhibition was the installation “Hommage à Tadeusz Kantor”, created by Dani Karavan especially for the ICC Gallery and referring to the long-standing friendship between the two artists. The exhibition was accompanied by the album “Dani Karavan. The Essence of Place”.
The co-curator of the exhibition at the ICC was Dr Monika Rydiger (the Israeli curator of the exhibition was Hagai Segev), who is also the author of articles and papers devoted to the artist. One of them, entitled “Overcoming boundaries, breaking restrictions. The art of Dani Karavan”, was presented at the 2nd “Sculpture Everywhere” Congress at the Centre for Polish Sculpture in Orońsko in 2023.
“High Maintenance – the Life and Work of Dani Karavant”
Film duration: 71 minutes
Year of production: 2020
Film with Polish subtitles.
Dr. Monika Rydiger – art historian and critic, lecturer. Curator at the Gallery of the International Cultural Centre. Member of the Polish section of AICA (International Association of Art Critics), vice-president of the Association of Art Historians, Krakow Branch. Author of many texts, she specializes in modern and contemporary art, with a particular focus on sculpture and architecture.
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