Artspace Tel Aviv | עמותת 'מקום לאמנות' בקרית המלאכה

Always Reflecting, Always Learning
Danny Darlington 

07.04.1989-07.10.2023

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Being born bi-cultural to an English father and an Israeli mother, Danny grew up with one foot in Manchester and the other on Kibbutz Nir Oz. In many respects, he lived two very different lives, ultimately shaping who he was and how he viewed the world. He was inquisitive, a deep thinker, and loved connecting with the people around him.

In his early twenties, after finishing his studies, he decided to leave Manchester to connect with his roots and return to the kibbutz where his mother, Batia, and father, Dave, had first met, and where his sister, Shelley, and half-siblings, Inbal and Lior, were born. He followed in his father’s footsteps as a volunteer, working in the fields harvesting potatoes. The peaceful and simple kibbutz life suited him perfectly, allowing him to build lifelong connections and friendships there.

After traveling, he moved to Germany and eventually settled in Berlin. It was here that he found his confidence, exploring his creative self and taking his talent in photography more seriously. His work was exhibited in both Paris and New York, showing promise for a successful career ahead. As often as he could, he would return to Nir Oz to spend time with the people he loved, in the place that felt like home. 

During his last visit to Israel in September 2023, he invited his friend and muse, Carolin, to experience the magic of the kibbutz with him. In their final days together, they rode bikes through the neighborhood, played backgammon by the pool, and watched the sunset over the fields, documenting everything through Danny’s camera lens.

This exhibition tells the story of Danny’s connection to Israel, to the kibbutz, and of his final days, through his eyes.  ״Always reflecting, always learning״.

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Shelley Darlington

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Danny Darlington (b. 1989) arrived at his annual family vacation on September 21, 2023 and was supposed to return to Berlin on October 7 (on an evening flight). Carolyn Bohl, his close friend joined him on September 23.

On September 26, they arrived in Kibbutz Nir Oz and from there they went on a trip  and took pictures in various sites in Israel, while returning to sleep in the kibbutz every night.

Shahar Vahab, Danny's friend from the kibbutz, accompanied them and documented them during the week and a half they spent in the kibbutz. Danny and Caroline were Both murdered in the safe room of ​​the apartment in Nir Oz.

Danny was a traditional, analog photographer. His entire photographic equipment was stolen by the terrorists except for one photographic film found in their apartment in Nir Oz. Danny's diary was also found in the apartment. Apparently, the last film was shot on Friday evening at sunset in Nir Oz on November 6th.

The exhibition presents images taken on the latest photographic film and short videos taken during the vacation days.

Danny's half-brothers are Inbal and Lior Peri, Batia's children from her first marriage to the late Chaim Peri, who was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas and his body was recovered and brought to burial on 8/27/24.

Special thanks to Shahar Vahab who spent the last days with Danny and Carolin, documented them and brought most of the materials for this exhibition.

Thanks to the designer Tali Eilon for all of her help.