“Aircraft Carrier” gift shop

Commissioned by curators Dan Handel, Erez Ella and Milana Gitzin Adiram of “AIRCRAFT CARRIER”, the Israeli Pavilion at The 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale, the gift shop required the design and production of near to 30 promotional products in series of 10-1000.

These products played a double role in the exhibition which dealt with the effects of the American influence on Israel: first, as exhibition pieces which refer to key events in the tightening of the American-Israeli relationship since 1973; and second, as products to be sold at a “gift shop” which invites the customers to be part of the exhibition, and of the act of consumerism.

About the exhibition: “In a historical moment of great uncertainties in both the United States and Israel, as the developments wrought by advanced capitalism are being questioned and bitterly resisted, we suggest to reflect on the beginning of the period which tied the two countries together and that can be said to be found these days in a major turning point.”

About the project: “curators Erez Ella, Milana Gitzin-Adiram and Dan Handel collaborated with product designer Tal Erez to create a sophisticated take on commercial merchandise stores. With each of the thirty products representing a key event in the Israeli-American relations, one can find the “send a settlement” postcard, allowing him or her to occupy territories, the nodding heads of American and Israeli leaders, or a Russian doll of Israeli treasury ministers, humorously indicating their short time in position during the economic crisis of the 1980s.”

Among the artists presenting at the exhibition: Fernando Guerra, Florian Holzherr, Jan Tichy, Assaf Evron and Nira Pereg.

Curators: Dan Handel, Erez Ella, Milana Gitzin Adiram

Production: Miki Gov “Production Den”

Additional credits:

Israel’s wars chewing gums: Designed & produced by Liora Rosin

Oil spill barrels: Designed and produced by Segev Moisa

IBM hebrew logo: Deisgn by Rotem Dayan Palma as part of ‘Advanced Typography course mentored by Oded Ezer, HIT

Aircraft Carrier ring: 3D modelling by Oded Lahav