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DORON
FURMAN

ARTIST OF TECHNOLOGY & ABSTRACTION

ABOUT DORON FURMAN

EXPLORING THE INTERSECTION OF TECHNOLOGY AND IDENTITY

Doron Furman is an artist whose work exists at the intersection of technology, abstraction, and human experience. Through his installations, Furman delves into the complex dynamics between humanity and the systems that increasingly shape our realities. His work is not merely a commentary on technology as a tool but a thought-provoking examination of its impact on perception, autonomy, and identity. By transforming industrial materials into enigmatic artifacts, Furman creates a dialogue that challenges conventional notions of utility and purpose in a technology-driven world.

Born out of a fascination with the tension between function and ambiguity, Furman’s art examines how machines can transcend their utilitarian roles to become conceptual objects of inquiry. His sculptures, constructed from screens, wires, metallic frameworks, and robotics, embody both precision and mystery. Each piece resists definitive interpretation, encouraging viewers to question their assumptions about the human-machine relationship. Through this approach, Furman invites audiences to explore the boundaries between organic and synthetic, operational and symbolic.

A significant aspect of Furman’s installations lies in their ability to implicate the viewer. By incorporating elements such as surveillance cameras and looping video feeds, he critiques the omnipresence of data collection and the autonomy of technological systems. These immersive, minimalist settings amplify the works’ themes, creating spaces that evoke detachment and sterility while encouraging introspection. Furman’s art reflects on the ethical and existential dilemmas of a world increasingly dominated by automation, urging us to reconsider our roles within these evolving systems.

WORKS

THE CONCEPTUAL MACHINES OF DORON FURMAN

Doron Furman’s installations are a study in contrasts, blending industrial precision with conceptual ambiguity to create works that are as enigmatic as they are striking. His sculptures are composed of materials like metal, glass, and circuitry—elements evocative of advanced engineering. Yet, these machine-like forms lack clear functionality, provoking curiosity and discomfort. By deliberately obfuscating their purpose, Furman transforms his creations into vehicles for speculative thought, encouraging viewers to see beyond their surface into the symbolic and philosophical questions they raise.

Minimalist and stark gallery environments serve as the backdrop for Furman’s works, heightening their impact. White walls and clinical lighting strip away distractions, drawing attention to the intricate details of his sculptures. Reflective and transparent surfaces interact dynamically with light, creating an immersive sensory experience that plays with perception. This reductionist approach amplifies the tension between materiality and concept, allowing the machines to take on an almost otherworldly presence. The sterile aesthetic underscores themes of surveillance, mechanization, and detachment, enhancing the viewer’s engagement with the installations.

Recurring motifs of surveillance and autonomy pervade Furman’s art. Many of his pieces feature integrated cameras, monitors, and feedback loops, creating a duality in which the viewer becomes both observer and observed. This interplay critiques contemporary systems of data collection while exploring the unsettling independence of technological systems. Furman’s sculptures seem to suggest that machines are no longer mere tools but entities with their own logic and agency. This perspective invites audiences to contemplate the ethical and societal implications of living in a world increasingly shaped by autonomous technologies.

Encontre
2024
Mirrors, metal pipes
5m x 3m
Crawling Robot
2024
Material Metal, glass, digital circuit, 4 screens
3m x 3m

ARTIST STATEMENT

TECHNOLOGY, ABSTRACTION, AND HUMANITY

As an artist, my work is driven by a fascination with the relationship between humanity and technology. I am intrigued by how machines influence our perception, identity, and autonomy in ways that go far beyond their intended functions. My installations aim to challenge viewers to rethink technology not just as a utilitarian force but as something that shapes the very fabric of our existence. Through abstraction and ambiguity, I encourage audiences to engage with my sculptures as more than objects—they are provocations, reflections, and questions about our evolving relationship with the systems we create.

The materials I use—metal, glass, screens, and robotics—are chosen for their tactile and industrial qualities, yet my intent is to move beyond their physicality. I want my sculptures to exist in a space between function and artifice, raising questions about purpose and intent. The minimalist settings of my installations are designed to amplify this ambiguity, stripping away distractions and allowing viewers to focus on the interplay between material, light, and concept. In these spaces, I hope to create a sense of detachment that mirrors the alienation often felt in our highly mechanized world.

Ultimately, my art is a critique of our dependency on technology and the systems that govern us. At its core, it explores control: who has it, who loses it, and what happens when machines operate beyond human oversight. I want my work to serve as a reminder to question the systems we inhabit and to consider the ethical and existential challenges of a future where human and machine boundaries continue to blur. Through my installations, I aim to spark conversations about autonomy, surveillance, and the evolving definition of what it means to be human.

RESUME

EDUCATION, EXHIBITIONS, AWARDS, AND GRANTS

Education:

  • 1995–1997: MSc in Interactive Multimedia, University of Westminster, London, UK
  • 1994–1995: MFA in Fine Arts, Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK
  • 1982–1986: BFA in Fine Arts, Accademia di Belle Arti, Florence, Italy

Selected Exhibitions:

  • 2023: Facade, Ramat Gan Museum of Israeli Art, curated by Adiya Porat & Revital Sliverman
  • 2023: Experimental Space, Grosso Modo Contemporary Art Gallery, Tel Aviv
  • 2019: Intervals, Wschodnia Gallery, curated by Adam Klimczak
  • 2017: Approximately Equal, Skala Gallery, Poznan, Poland, curated by Marek Wasilewski
  • 2016: Kreis Gallery, Nuremberg, Germany
  • 2012: Centro de Artes CMA, Madrid
  • 2008: Money and Guilt, Artnoyland, Berlin, curated by Yael Katz
  • 2007: Pornography My Love, Frame Time, Artists’ Association, Tel Aviv
  • 2006: Names Treasure, Mas Gallery, Serbia, curated by Nenad Bogdanobitz
  • 2006: Shared History, Gallery ‘On’, Poznan, Poland, curated by Marek Wasilewski
  • 2005: Wschodnia Gallery City of Lodz, Poland (including Warsaw and Krakow exhibitions)
  • 2005: Israeli Video Forum Museums Art, curated by Galit Icon
  • 2003: Mona Museum of Modern Art, Rochester, Detroit, curated by Jeff Biro
  • 2001: Treasure Blue, Pyramid, Haifa, curated by Mark Fainaru
  • 2001: Kalisher Gallery, Tel Aviv, curated by Ronen Leibman
  • 2000: The New York Independent Film and Video Festival
  • 2000: ND International Film/Video Festival, Belgium
  • 2000: Gallery Firm, Tel Aviv, curated by Rachel Sukman
  • 2000: International Artists’ Museum, New York, curated by Liliana Orbach
  • 1998: Podevil, Berlin, curated by Rose Financing
  • 1995: Alternative Space Vandy St., London, curated by Monica Oursler
  • 1995: Hug-You, Anthony Reynolds Gallery, London, curated by Gerard Hemsworth
  • 1994: Tone Deaf, Herzliya Museum and Bograshov Gallery, Tel Aviv (Solo Exhibition)
  • 1988: Tirosh Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel (Solo Exhibition)

Awards & Grants:

  • 2007: New Foundation for Cinema and TV
  • 2006: Yehosua Rabinovich Artist Book Grant
  • 2000: Grant from the Israeli Foreign Office for an art piece in the UK
  • 2000: Video Art Grant, PVA, Bridport, England
  • 1997: Excellence in Art, The Israeli Art Association
  • 1995: British Council Grant for MA in Fine Arts, Goldsmiths College, London
  • 1982: Italian Council Grant for BA in Fine Arts, Accademia di Belle Arti, Florence

CONTACT DETAILS

GET IN TOUCH

Email: doron.furman@gmail.com

Website: www.furman.org.il

Instagram: @doron_furman

YouTube: Doron Furman