Interview: Haddas Eshel
Luca Curci talks with Haddas Eshel during ANIMA MUNDI FESTIVAL 2019 – VISIONS at Palazzo Ca’ Zanardi

Born in Israel in 1990. Graduated from Kelim Choreography Center, Ashkelon School of Arts, Haifa Dance Program, Peridance Certificate Program in New York City, Akko Theater Center, and many workshops and professorial intensives in Amsterdam, Salzburg, Copenhagen, London, Graz and more. Certified Pilates instructor. Worked with contemporary choreographers both in Israel and abroad, such as Ran Ben Dror, Roy Asaf, Deganit Shemi, Seline Baumgratner and Merav Cohen. Created cinematic collaborations with directors and photographers for ‘Trao’, ‘Between the Walls’, ‘Tress’. Winner of the 2016 Isadora Duncan Foundation Scholarship in New York City. Toured with original pieces in many international festivals around the world, including Bray in Ireland, PlastForma in Minsk and WID in Philadelphia. Currently touring with the trio ‘Channel 3’ and developing a new piece, that was commissioned for a residency in Portugal in April.

Luca Curci – What is art for you? 
Haddas Eshel – A deep need and necessity of being myself in the world. My way of thinking is always affected by art and by the inspiration I get or don’t get from my environment. It brings me great joy to be surrounded by art, especially when it’s clever and thoughtful. 

LC – What are you currently working on?
HE – I am working on a new trio called ‘Cahnnel 3’, with two other female dancers and myself. It is dealing with triggers and essentially Touch as a trigger of movement. I am also working and developing a new idea that deals with hidden craves. It’s about the need to unleash all the irrelevant, silly, external desires as a cohesive piece. 

LC – Which is the role the artist plays in the society? And the contemporary art?
HE – The artist has the role of the observer in one hand and the activist on another hand. Some artists aspire to observe, deconstruct and bring their point of view on a certain phenomena or situation – personal, global, national etc. Some artists strive to effect the society with their art and with their artistic actions. I believe that in either way, being an artist has to do with freedom, since it’s considered a privilege. Contemporary art has a role to maintain that freedom, reinvent itself constantly and use all those never-ending possibilities that it now has in a relevant way.  

LC – Where do you find your inspiration? 
HE – My firsthand, most approachable way of inspiring myself is through music. I develop an emotional or physical connection to the sound and utilise it to dance. I also find inspiration in the mundane composition of daily life. The movement of the day to day routine and the simultaneous happening of events is the best performance. The stillness of happenings also fascinates me. In the studio I find inspiration with specific instructions that trigger me into long lasting movement. 

LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks?
HE – Overthinking everything, never being satisfied, missing your own blind spots. Fight for resources and time to make things happen, or just not having them. 

LC – What is the message linked to the artwork you have shown in this exhibition? How is it connected to the theme of the entire festival?
HE – I performed my solo piece ‘DRIVE’ that is offering an inner dialogue between the external eye of observers to the internal eye of the performer. 
The performing body is trying to stay in the intentions of the moment, creating a mental artificial solitude from the external eye – in an effort to remain genuine and communicating physically. I believe it is connected to the theme of ANIMA MUNDI, when it comes to the connection of the human soul and body, and to the living energy behind things. I have a true desire to try and strip the body from its behavioural inhibitions and allow the energy that cultivates it to be the main focus. Is it a secret force? probably not, but it feels that it needs to be refined and tuned in a thoughtful manner. 

LC – We were attracted by your last artistic production, has the artwork presented been created for the festival or as a part of preexisting works?
HE – The solo is part of an existing work, that was created during the first year of my studies in the Kelim Choreographic Program in Bat Yam in Israel. It was invited to perform in festivals across Israel, Ireland, Minsk and in the US.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
HE – A very cool, relevant and contemporary platform, that has an ability to attract many audiences. 

LC – What do you think about the organisation of our event?
HE – I loved the venue of the festival and the curation was nice and interesting. There was a great job in terms of marketing, being up to date and bringing diverse content. 

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
HE – I do think that it can represent an opportunity for artists. The exposure for audiences, and the encounter with them is nice and interesting. The ideas are out there.