EXHIBITIONS | November 14, 2024
Exploring Identity and Transformation:
The Memory Shape Project by Danielle Mano-Bella
By Laura Acosta
Danielle Mano-Bella, a multidisciplinary artist based in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, invites us on a journey through identity, belonging, and the universal human experience with her powerful project, “Memory Shape”. This innovative body of work combines art with science, utilizing cutting-edge silk-based biomaterials developed by the biotech start-up SilkIt.
A faceless character captured in Silk Film, reflecting the fluidity of identity and resilience. The 'Memory Shape' property allows the material to return to its original form, echoing themes of transformation and human adaptability.
The Alchemist: Unveiling Memory and Identity Through Live Performance and Art
Danielle Mano Bella’s solo exhibition, “The Alchemist”, curated by Ilan Moyal and hosted at Q Gallery, a Hebrew Queer Art Gallery, formed part of the “International Mental Health Awareness” initiative, running from 10.10.24 to 10.11.24. This impactful exhibition invited viewers to engage deeply with themes of identity, resilience, and transformation through Danielle’s project, Memory Shape, developed in collaboration with SilkIt.
The opening event on 10.10 was marked by captivating performances that highlighted the project’s themes. Artists Polymer (Poliana Liakhovitskii) and Teffer (Or Mai) presented a powerful vocal performance titled “Welcome to: a big wash”, an immersive exploration of physical and emotional pain, the cleansing of past traumas, and reflections on feminism and matriarchal society. The evening also featured a live musical performance by Roi Mileguir in collaboration with @Nefashot, adding a compelling layer of depth to the exhibition’s message.
A glimpse into 'The Alchemist' exhibition at Q Gallery, where Danielle Mano Bella explores themes of identity and resilience through her Memory Shape project.
Artists Polymer (Poliana Liakhovitskii) and Teffer (Or Mai) during the powerful vocal performance 'Welcome to: a big wash,' reflecting on themes of trauma, feminism, and emotional cleansing.
Exploring the Vision Behind Memory Shape
Danielle Mano-Bella’s Memory Shape project exemplifies her commitment to merging art with cutting-edge science, creating a space where material memory and human experience intersect. Developed in collaboration with SilkIt, a biotechnology start-up specializing in silk-based biomaterials, the project delves into themes of transformation, resilience, and identity using two innovative materials: Silk Film and Silk Aerogel. These materials possess a unique “memory shape” property, which allows them to revert to their original form after contact with water. This characteristic inspires the project’s concept, drawing a parallel between the physical memory of materials and the emotional, social, and environmental changes we undergo as individuals and communities.
Using the ancient Cyanotype printing technique, also known as “sun printing,” Danielle breathes life into her subjects on these silk-based materials. Sunlight and UV radiation expose images of faceless, expressive characters frozen in theatrical poses, embodying universal emotions such as sadness, joy, shame, and fear. By leaving the faces blank, Danielle invites viewers to engage with the depicted feelings without the constraints of specific identities, encouraging introspection and fostering a sense of shared human connection.
Each silk material uniquely enhances the artwork’s conceptual depth. Silk Aerogel presents a dual-sided display, where each side reveals a different scene of the same character—one side faded, the other bold—mirroring the fluid, ever-shifting nature of identity. Silk Film, a transparent and reactive medium, hardens upon exposure to air and softens with water, symbolizing the fluidity of perspective and adaptability of self across different environments and situations.
Using innovative Silk Film and Silk Aerogel materials, each work explores resilience, transformation, and the fluid nature of identity.
Exploring the duality of identity and emotional states through Silk Aerogel and Silk Film.
SilkIt: Pioneers in Sustainable Biomaterials
SilkIt, Danielle’s collaborator, is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing sustainable, silk-derived biomaterials for advanced applications. With their groundbreaking technique for extracting fibroin (the core protein in silk), they produce materials that retain the resilience and quality of natural silk. This breakthrough, rooted in research at the Weizmann Institute of Science, enables SilkIt to create biomaterials with potential applications in medical fields, including skin grafts and other healthcare innovations.
Scenes from The Alchemist exhibition at Q Gallery, featuring Danielle Mano-Bella’s Memory Shape project.
A Shared Journey:
Exploring Resilience and Transformation in Memory Shape
Memory Shape serves as a profound exploration of art, science, and humanity, blending individual and collective identities through the transformative power of silk-based biomaterials. Danielle Mano-Bella’s work encourages us to reflect on our own capacity for resilience, transformation, and connection with others. Join us in discovering this unique perspective on shared human experience, where art and science intertwine to reveal the complexity of identity and belonging.
"Memory Shape” Project Book, designed by Eden Pruzansky, which highlights Danielle’s artistic process and personal story behind the project.
Photography and Interview Credits
Process Photography: Elijah Kagan
Profile and Black & White Photography: Vladimir Didetchin
Interview: Unhinged Print magazine, by Adam Karev and Elijah Kagan
For further details:
Laura Acosta, Curator and Creative Director at Arttyco, combines her background in architecture, interior design, and cultural management to create accessible and engaging contemporary art experiences. Her multidisciplinary approach emphasizes spatial awareness and deep audience connection.