Uri Zamir’s body of work, manifested in sculpture, installation, video, and performance, explores mythic images and draws inspiration from archaeological artifacts of ancient cultures. He is particularly intrigued by the moment when ordinary objects or situations acquire an aura that elevates them to the sublime, unfolding a transcendental dimension beyond human perception. By treating objects with a sacred air, Zamir refers to the inherent function of the museum as a temple in contemporary society.

After years of experimenting in theater, Zamir aims to create a similar effect in his visual works, akin to scenographic work that, with objects and lighting, generates a speculative space allowing a temporal experience in another world, in a different life. The theatrical convention fosters a certain ritual where the spectator is absorbed into an imagined site, far removed from its actual physical presence.

Zamir’s artworks resonate with the tension between the sacred and the ludicrous when he deals with imbued figures, confronting them with a caricatural aesthetic. In his view, there is a certain act of secularization when historical symbols are translated into a popular language, leaning on the ‘naive’ visual culture shared by many members of the public.

He harnesses practices from the worlds of theater and stage design to position his works in the space between shallow familiarity and the shadows of the imaginary, transforming museum spaces into rooms for action and speculation.