In my photomontage photography frequently appears the image of the female nude. This is the subject that corresponds to my sensuality, but also to something deeper that is linked to cosmic nature, to universal mythos and archetypes. Nude photography is in fact a portrait of more intimacy, allowing direct expression, without masks - both of the personality of the model as well as that of the photographer. Woman, more than Man, has roots into life: Eve is the mother of all life! Therefore I agree with the French photographer Jeanloup Sieff who said: “I do not believe in God, but Woman is the proof of His existence.” If I want to express the general meaning of my photos, I would say that they express the beauty of life in contrast to the dangers lurking there – and in the feminine generality: the harmony of woman’s world opposite the destructive power of man. I create the pictures first of all for myself. I invest them with all that I have in me: tenderness, fears, sensuality, magic, humor and my dreams. I am aware of the world that I create: a world of fantasy, of legend, illusion and dread, a world of nowhere that is apparently alienated from reality – but reflects like a mirror the being of man. This mirror I am offering the spectator with love, and I hope that the vibrations arising from my pictures will strike waves also in him.

I was born in 1926 in Geneva of parents from Turkish origin. I completed my studies there in Mechanical Engineering. Since coming to Israel in 1948, I went through a number of stages: I was a member of a kibbutz, a metal worker, a practical engineer, and also a teacher of technological subjects in professional high schools. Only late, at the age of 45, did I discover the magic of photography. I changed my profession and joined the photographic laboratory of the Faculty of Architecture (Technion – Haifa) where I worked for 28 years.

EXHIBITIONS 1970 Beith-Sokolov, Tel-Aviv 1974 “Situation”, Israel Museum, Jerusalem – group 1979 “White Gallery”, Tel-Aviv 1982 “M. Valentine Gallery”, Paris 1982 “Shai Danon Gallery”, Tel-Aviv 1983 “Graphica 3 Gallery”, Haifa 1983 “Nikon Gallery”, Zürich 1984 “Zoom Portfolio”, Paris 1985 “Camera Obscura”, Tel-Aviv 1985 “Galerie Claude Perrain”, Paris 1986 “La Femme”, ZOA House, Tel-Aviv – group 1986 “Nikon Gallery”, Zürich - group 1986 “Camera Obscura”, Haifa 1986 “Fotografie Forum Frankfurt”, Germany 1987 “City Museum”, Nahariah 1988 “Moment Gallery”, Hamburg - group 1990 “Burgtheater Galerie”, Ratzeburg, W. Germany– group 1990 “Stara Galeria”. Warsaw - group 1990 “Galeria Biala LDK”. Lublin – group 1991 Karo, New Gallery, Haifa 1992 Grand Prix Photographique, Geneva - group 1993 Western Galilee College Gallery 2000 Technion - Haifa 2001 “Hottentot”Gallery - Haifa 2001 Centre Culturel Francais - Haifa 2006 Art Magazine APA . Germany Ben-Arieh took part in international exhibitions: London, Southampton, Lincoln, Edinburgh, Moers, Jicin, Istanbul, Nicosia. Paris, Zurich, Frankfurt, Hamburg… In addition Ben-Arieh participated in five international photographic meetings in Arles (France). * * The National Library in Paris has acquired twelve photographs of the artist’s various exhibitions.