Interview: Danny Johananoff
Luca Curci talks with Danny Johananoff during ANIMA MUNDI – VISIONS 2026, at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello in Venice.

“The world moves continuously. Human memory does not preserve sharp edges and perfect detail. What remains are emotions, impressions, fragments and sensations. My photographs attempt to inhabit that space. They are not intended to provide answers. They are invitations. Each viewer completes the image differently. That conversation between photograph and imagination is where the work truly begins.”

Luca Curci – What is art for you?
Danny Johananoff – Art, for me, is the constant search for harmony-in both music and images. I believe art is always there, all around us. My role as a photographer is simply to identify it and capture it through the lens. I don’t create something new per se; I open myself up to receive whatever scenery transmits an emotion to me. Art is about evoking feelings, and if my images can move someone in any way, I feel honored. It’s that connection between the viewer and the image that truly matters.

LC – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
DJ – I was born in Manchester, UK, and grew up in Israel. My father had a deep love for photography, and from the age of 11, we spent countless hours together in the darkroom, experimenting with black & white and color images. That was my first real “artistic” training. In parallel, I had a strong connection to music-I played classical piano at age 6 and later had my own band as a teenager, playing guitar. I spent 40 years in a business career, but I carried a camera with me everywhere, all the time. Now, semi-retired, I have returned fully to my passions. I would say the experience that has influenced me most is my extreme travel. Visiting places like Kyrgyzstan, India, Cuba, and Mexico has juxtaposed different landscapes and circumstances, transforming my view of the world in an abstract way. Each expedition deepens my perspective and allows me to see beauty even in unexpected places.

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
DJ – I am inspired by what I see and experience directly. When I see an interesting face for a portrait, I feel drawn to capture it. When I witness beautiful movement and colors, I capture it my way-keeping the motion in a single frame and letting the colors brush along. I begin each photo expedition with no expectations or preconceived notions about what I might find. I leave my mind and soul open to receive whatever calls out to me in that moment. It is this openness that allows inspiration to find me.

LC – Did your style change over the years? In which way?
DJ – Absolutely. Initially, when I worked with traditional film cameras, experimentation was slow and costly-you had to wait a week to see if your experiment succeeded. When digital cameras arrived, I was thrilled because they allowed my creativity to be practiced more freely and quickly. Over time, my style has evolved significantly. I move now from very sharp and clear portraits and macro photography into barely identified faces and figures. A major part of my photographs is intentionally blurred, leaving space for interpretation and the viewer’s imagination. I don’t freeze the moment anymore; I let it move for a while and capture the beauty of dynamics. I’ve come to enjoy “painting” with the camera, using slow shutter speeds and camera movement-all created in-camera with no post-editing applied to the blurry effect. This shift from sharp clarity to dreamy abstraction is a reflection of how I see the world now.

LC – Can you explain something about the artworks you have in our exhibition?
DJ – The works in this exhibition reflect my ongoing exploration of culture and the pure beauty found in different cultures. Two of the images were captured during my expedition to Kyrgyzstan, another, taken in Lijiang, China, a beautiful dance scene. In contrast, an image capturing family and friends during a cremation ceremony in Kathmandu, Nepal. I wanted to experience and document the very different moments in cultures rarely seen in the western world. The photographs are dreamy and blurred, allowing the viewer to interpret and connect with the emotion of the moment rather than just seeing a sharp, literal image. They represent the thrill I felt in that moment-a feeling of surprise and discovery-and I hope to transmit that same sensation to you.

LC – Is there an unrealised or unrealisable project, even a crazy one, that you would like to work on?
DJ – I wouldn’t call any project “unrealizable”, because part of my approach is to remain open to whatever draws me in. However, I do have a long-standing desire to combine music and images in a single experience. I believe these two senses together have an impact where one plus one equals three. A multimedia exhibition that truly merges sound and vision in a seamless way is something I would love to explore further.

LC – How much has the city/country in which you grew up affected your work as an artist?
DJ – Growing up in Israel, I was surrounded by a complex and layered environment-a place of stark contrasts. My travels later in life, including visits to places like Africa, South America, Mid Asia and the far east and back to the war-torn Middle East, have deepened my perspective. I believe the lens I developed over time, shaped by where I come from, allows me to see beauty even in challenging circumstances. Music and photography were always present in my family, so harmony in sound and color has been a lifelong pursuit. My background taught me that art can be found everywhere-you just have to
be open to receiving it.

LC – How is being an artist nowadays?
DJ – Being an artist today is both exciting and accessible. Digital technology has made it cheaper and quicker to experiment, which is a wonderful freedom. I started exhibiting only in 2018-quite late in my life-and since then, my unique style has gained momentum in the art community. However, being an artist today also means navigating a crowded field and finding ways to share your work meaningfully. Social media and online platforms allow that, but the core challenge remains the same: to create work that moves people and to stay true to your own vision. For me, it’s a blessing to finally embrace the title of “artist” after a lifetime of creating.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
DJ – Yes, I believe platforms like ITSLIQUID GROUP provide valuable opportunities for artists to reach new audiences and connect with the international art community. Exhibiting in cities like New York, Miami, Rome, Milan, Tokyo, Shanghai, Venice and Hong Kong has been important for my own journey. Organizations that facilitate these connections and help bring diverse artists together are essential. They create spaces where art can be seen, appreciated, and understood across cultural boundaries, which aligns with my own belief in sharing my particular view with as many people as possible.

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
DJ – Based on my experience and the opportunities I’ve had to exhibit internationally, I would certainly suggest collaboration with an organization like ITSLIQUID GROUP. Your services appear to bridge the gap between artists and global audiences, which is invaluable. The art world is about connection-between the artist and the viewer, between different cultures, and between different artistic disciplines. If your platform
facilitates that, then it is a meaningful service. I am always open to sharing my work and my view of the world, and organizations like yours help make that possible.