David Drebin is pure energy. Once you’ve met him in person, you’ll never forget him. He stands out with his very open and engaging demeanor. His mindset is also reflected in his work, which is fresh and vivid, a mix of poetic narrative and contemporary drive. After our last collaboration in September 2019, on behalf of the HIGH10 Art Collection, we recently reconnected to talk about two upcoming highlights marking his 50th birthday. Check out what’s new with David Drebin:
Nadine Dinter: This year, you are not only celebrating your 50th birthday, but also your 15th anniversary being represented by the Berlin-based gallery CAMERA WORK. Congratulations! Are there any special highlights you would like to share with us?
David Drebin: Loyalty is everything. I’ve been working with Camera Work since 2005.
ND: You are famed for your captivating “dreamscapes” and cinematic city views inhabited by beautiful women with sensual, long hair and seemingly endless legs. How do you find those models? Do you work with any of them regularly? And what´s your philosophy behind it?
DD: It’s never the places, it’s the faces in the places.
ND: In the past six months, world travel has pretty much come to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. How did you manage to keep shooting and being creative under lockdown?
DD: California always inspires and that is where I often photograph for a few months a year. The mountains, the ocean, the dreams. It’s called “City of Angels” for a reason…
ND: Your photographic vision is to offer a kind of secret escape to viewers. Be it through a vast panorama window, a lovely view onto Central Park, or the allure of a refreshing dip in the pool. How have these difficult times affected the response to your work? Do you think it’s prompted more people to search for soothing visual getaways?
DD: We build the brand and the vision and the collectors come. I focus mainly on the vision. We have been showcasing works with Camera Work and Art Fairs together since 2004. It’s never easy. But passion is passion and vision is vision.
ND: Your new book, Collectors Edition, will be published this fall in celebration of your birthday and features 50 of your favorite photographs. How did you manage to make a selection, given the multitude of brilliant images you’ve created?
DD: By working with an amazing team: together we selected images that were mostly sold out or close to sold out. We will be giving many of the books as gifts to collectors of the Limited Edition works over the years.
ND: Also coming up is your next exhibition, 15 Years – Collected Dreams, at CAMERA WORK in Berlin. What will be on view and what is the curatorial concept behind this show?
DD: You will have to make an appointment with Camera Work to see 🙂
ND: Not only do you travel a lot, you are also quite active on social media. How important is it, in your opinion, to be visible on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter?
DD: Branding is everything. Every brand needs an audience.
ND: What are your plans for the next 15 years?
DD: Good question. Creating, building amazing relationships, creating, building amazing relationships. Creating, building amazing relationships, creating, building amazing relationships. Creating, building amazing relationships, creating, building amazing relationships. Creating, building amazing relationships, creating, building amazing relationships.
ND: What’s your advice for the new generation of up-and-coming photographers?
DD: Follow your Dreams. Be relentless in your pursuit. Be patient. Enjoy the process. It’s a wild ride!
SAVE THE DATES:
5 September until 2 October 2020
Exhibition »15 Years – Collected Dreams« at CAMERA WORK, Berlin
Book Release “Collectors Edition”, available through teNeues as of October 2020
More at: https://daviddrebin.com/
Follow David Drebin on instagram at @daviddrebin
