Creatures large and small draw caricaturist’s attention

Humorist Dudi Shamai is known for his political caricatures and children’s book illustrations, as well as his series of fish — the more fins and scales, the better.

Now Shamai has a new solo exhibition of other animals — and beings — that sparked his imagination, “There IS Such a Creature” at Holon’s Beit Meirov Gallery, opening June 2.

In the exhibit, Shamai digs into animals’ physical structure, the texture of their fur or feathers, and their colors.

Some of the works touch on the worlds of fantasy and imagination, while others offer sharp social criticism on issues ranging from Israel’s political morass to climate change and consumer culture.

Shamai is known as one of the few illustrators in Israel who still works by hand, creating realistic illustrations and humorous line drawings that blur the divide between illustration and painting.

He has been publishing his caricatures in the Israeli press for the last 30 years, drawing political portraits, caricatures and illustrations dealing with current affairs.

One of the illustrations by humorist Dudu Shamai, part of his ‘There IS Such a Creature’ at Holon’s Beit Meirov Gallery, June 2-August 31, 2023 (Courtesy Beit Meirov Gallery)

It was the birth of his children that drew Shamai to children’s books, and he has illustrated dozens of children’s books including those written by Hayim Nahman Bialik, Levin Kipnis and Nurit Hirsch.

He has also written and illustrated his own books, including “Who will be King of the Animals?” “Drawing Funny with an Erasable Marker,” and the bestseller “Hands Draw Animals.”

The second part of the exhibition presents illustrations from Shamai’s children’s books.

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to try their hands at comics illustration with video instruction from Shamai, and can complete some of the illustrations hanging on the gallery walls, becoming active participants in Shamai’s exhibit.

The exhibit opens June 2 through August 31 as part of the Holon Israeli Design Season at the Beit Meirov Gallery in Holon, and is free of charge.