In this project, Daniel Elkayam seeks to understand the profound meaning of the dichotomy between attraction and repulsion. As Elkayam puts it: ‘Beauty isn’t always about the serene and harmonious. It is often the tension and dissonance that make something to be truly captivating.’
His investigation began with a focus on skin as the central motif. As Elkayam notes, ‘Human skin is a phenomenon in itself: it is constantly changing, adapting and renewing. It is our most visible and exposed organ, the interface through which we sense and create physical contact with the environment. It is the surface that separates the self from others, the interior from the exterior.’ Yet it is also charged with social and cultural meanings that can often be misjudged based on appearance alone.
As a first step, he explored the topic of skin on himself, creating a series of self-portraits as small acts of distorting and defamiliarising his own face. This personal investigation laid the foundation for a broader inquiry into how identity is perceived and altered. Building on this, he then began working on the analysis of other people’s faces, using portrait photographs and trying to understand the essence of facial features and the range of appearances that distinguish what society perceives as visual normality and abnormality. Using digital tools to explore this led to a series of material and aesthetic decisions, shifting eventually to physical objects.
‘These ceramic vases stand as silent sentinels of our society’s complex relationship with beauty.’
‘As humans, we are the carriers of our identity. Among many physical and non-physical traits, our skin acts as a visual vessel that categorises our social status and body image. Skinny/fat, young/old, well maintained/neglected: these are just a few of the contrasting labels that can be identified through our skin. The objects he created and the materials he used contain an inherent tension. They are hybrids of aesthetics that contrast the binary notions of attraction and repulsion. Skin, in this broader context, is not only examined as a human feature but also in relation to plant life, animals, materials and objects.’
These ceramic vases stand as silent sentinels of our society’s complex relationship with beauty, challenging the delicate boundary between attraction and repulsion. In this series, classical elegance is interwoven with raw, textured layers that evoke the visceral struggle between societal ideals and natural imperfections. Each vase embodies a duality: smooth, polished curves are disrupted by skin-like surfaces, creating a dialogue between the refined and the flawed. This tension mirrors the human experience, where self-acceptance often collides with external pressure to conform to narrow standards of beauty. Through this contrast, the vases invite us to reflect on our perceptions of what is beautiful or repulsive, urging us to look beyond the surface. They serve as a reminder that true dignity and worth lie not in the polished exterior but in the embrace of our imperfections, both in art and in ourselves.
Do you have a new collection or a new body of work that’s simply dazzling? We want to hear from you! And remember, there’s no deadline – we welcome submissions throughout the whole year!
Every submission is a potential gem, and our team takes great care in handpicking projects that resonate with the contemporary scene. To submit your work, just email high-resolution images (5-10 pcs), image credentials, social media tag, work description (max 250 words), and artist bio (max 250 words) to veronika@current-obsession.com.
Artist: daniellkayam
Website: kayamstudio
All featured images are a courtesy of the artsist.
