Field Review | Artist Interview Series
In convarsation with
Danielle Mano-Bella
Danielle Mano-Bella (born in 1993) is a multidisciplinary artist and entrepreneur of Israeli-Portuguese descent, residing in Jaffa.
Mano-Bella holds a bachelor's degree with honors from the Department of Multidisciplinary Art at Shenkar. Throughout her career, she has exhibited works both locally and internationally, receiving coverage in magazines, books, catalogs, and articles such as Art and Museum, Arts to Hearts Magazine, Curatory Magazine, Titan Contemporary and Arttyco and more. She is known for her work in multidisciplinary art, focusing on questions of identity, belonging, and the connection between humans and nature.
Through developing new BiotTech techniques from Innovative biochemicals and combining them with traditional techniques such as ( photography and documentation) and she explores themes of personal and collective identity, belonging, and the relationships between people and nature. She also examines mental, social, and environmental processes, emphasizing the commonalities among them in human experiences.
In 2023, Mano-Bella began integrating science and art by developing techniques called "Memory Shape" in collaboration with the Israeli biotech startup ״SilkIt ״, founded by Dr. Dror
Eliaz, which specializes in producing biochemical materials for medical purposes. Mano-Bella is also the founder of the art-tech startup ״Martch .
From:
Israel
Artist Statement
In my work, I focus on developing new biotechnological techniques using innovative chemicals and combine them with traditional techniques such as photography, print , installation, sculpture and more.
I explore and document various individuals from different communities within Israeli and international society, such as the LGBTQ community, the Arab-Israeli community, the Russian community, the Ethiopian community, the BDSM community, and more.
I explore questions of personal identity, collective identity, belonging,hope , freedom, Love and the relationship between human vs. human , and human vs. nature. Through this exploration, I draw comparisons between mental, social, and environmental development processes and biological-consciousness development processes to try to expose the common between all of us as humanity when we are not focusing on society definitions but as human nature as part of nature
Tell us about yourself and your artistic background.
I am a multidisciplinary artist from Israel, who began my journey in the performing arts, primarily in acting and dance. Throughout my life, I traveled extensively and started photographing, which led me to explore processes in nature alongside human processes. I create three-dimensional installations from the photographs I have collected over the years, drawing their forms from the appearance of various organisms.
About four years ago, I experienced an outbreak of a rare illness that affected my vision, which motivated me to delve into the field of genetics and also led me to work with innovative biochemical materials in a laboratory setting. Today, I focus on innovative biochemical materials in my creations and on a technique developed in collaboration with a biotechnology company called SilkIt. I combine these innovative materials with herbal plants.
How would you describe your artistic practice?
I live my art as an ongoing adventure. Each project I create is an opportunity to learn and discover new things, both about myself and the world around me.
I love to combine different materials and explore their interaction. Every experiment I conduct offers me new insights, and often I discover processes I didn't expect. Working with biochemical materials, for example, has opened new doors for me, both artistically and scientifically.
I see myself as a bridge between different fields—art, science, and nature. Every aspect of my creation influences the others, and I believe these connections create rich and complex experiences for my viewers.
I am also excited by the ability of art to foster dialogue, ask questions, and provoke thought. Every installation I create contains not only its materiality but also the story and emotional connection I aim to convey.
What themes or ideas are most important in your work?
The themes I focus on in my work are developmental processes—whether in the social or personal realm, in nature or technology, in the psyche or in the body and spirit. My focus is on the connection and relationship between all these processes.
What inspires your creative process?
My connection to nature. It’s not just a source of inspiration; it’s also a way to examine life itself. I love to go on hikes, explore different landscapes, and observe the small details, like patterns on leaves or the behaviors of animals.
Each of these details can lead me to a new idea or a creative process. I also feel that nature teaches us about patience and change. Processes such as growth, blossoming, or even decline are ones I see as reflections of our lives. I try to incorporate these insights into my creations, crafting experiences that invite viewers to contemplate the connections between nature and human life.
During my work in the lab, I learn how biochemical materials can reflect these processes, and it’s an amazing opportunity to blend art and science. I feel like I am part of something larger, and I want to convey that feeling through my work.
Can you tell us about a recent artwork or project?
I am currently working on a large project that combines innovative biochemical materials with herbal plants, alongside the use of seashells and other natural elements, integrated with artificial materials such as epoxy. The project focuses on the relationship between various social processes and the environmental and conscious processes we undergo. At the center of the project is a figure named "Hope," which is a representation of a girl without identifiable features, symbolizing the essence of hope. She raises questions about hope as a source of life and creative energy, as a force that connects people and nature. Hope is expressed in every detail, crossing boundaries of religion, race, and gender, and it is not just an abstract idea but a raw truth, a childhood memory, a gentle yet powerful force that drives the creative process for future generations.
What challenges have influenced your development as an artist?
The hardest challenge I've faced in my art has been the illness that emerged. Before that, I encountered many challenges, mostly related to patience and perseverance, but when the illness developed and affected my vision and other bodily functions, it was the first time I felt on
the brink of despair. Everything I knew seemed to slip away from under my feet. I had to reinvent myself.
Until then, my path was clear; from that moment on, my direction vanished, and I felt completely lost—unsure of where to turn or what to do. Yet this was the challenge: to rise above the difficulty, to find hope, and to create anew. That's where my success in developing the new technique, Memory Shape, with the startup Silk It came from, working with innovative biochemical materials derived from silk and becoming familiar with the field of herbal plants and their integration into my work.
So all I can say is that no matter what challenge arises, it's worth persevering even when you can't see the way forward. Keep moving forward with faith and hope.
What role does art play in your life today?
Art is simply a part of me. I see no option to not engage in it. It represents meaning for me, purpose, influence, and a way of life. It is a source of life energy, love, and hope.
Peace.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently developing a sculpture from an innovative biochemical material derived from silk, combined with colors from herbal plants as part of my project on hope. At the same time, I am working on two large installations, along with linoleum prints and etchings on another innovative biochemical material, also based on colors from herbal plants. All of these are part of the project I am developing on "Hope."
What are your future goals as an artist?
My biggest goal is impact. For this, I continue to create. To touch people in the hope of healing. To provide inspiration and hope for a better future.
Where can readers follow your work?
The best place to follow my updates is on Instagram, where I post the most current content. You can also check my personal website, but I only update that once a year based on the projects from the previous year. So I primarily recommend following my artist Instagram account, where I share both processes and insights from my personal journey every week.
