Up Close & Personal with DEDE

UP CLOSE & Personal with DEDE

A prolific Tel Aviv urban artist known for his iconic bandaids, Dede (@dedebandaid) utilizes various media to communicate within outdoor spaces. Dede creates art to heal, and he is collaborating with CHW to spread the concept around the world.

In Dede's words:

"It all began towards the end of my military service. Designing the bandaid started as something very personal, but then it became much bigger. I discovered more and more meaning around the bandaid and received hundreds of emails and stories from people who could relate to my bandaids. I keep finding more meaning with each new location and each bandaid project.

"My bandaid drawing began as self therapy, although I didn’t fully know it at the time. Over the years and through my paintings, I have shared my story with so many people. In fact, many of those people, whom I have never met, still reach out and share their very personal problems with me.

"Art helped me heal in many ways. I feel much better with every bandaid I paint, especially because soldiers receive minimal mental health support after they finish their military service. I’m happy to know I have helped so many people, and grateful they shared their stories with me. It’s about meeting the bandaid outside at a critical moment. It gives them a place and a platform to share and talk openly about their problems. They can see that they’re not alone.

"I always look for new ways to combine my bandaid in real and different contexts. I want to use the bandaid in new ways and in new locations to touch people's lives."

The iconic bandaids on the entrance to an old bunker at the dead sea.

Artist credit: Dede Bandaid

Spread Nothing But Love with Dede's heart-shaped logo.

Artist credit: Dede Bandaid

Creating Art to Heal

"In this specific project with CHW, I think about all the people in the hospital I can maybe help just a little, especially the children. It fills my heart. I wish I could help them physically, but art is what I know. I love to help and support in the way I can.

"I was featured all over the world, including Canada. I went to Montreal a few years ago and painted a mural there. It is definitely one of the places I miss and want to return to again and again. I loved it! I loved the people I met. I felt a strong sense of support and found Montreal to be an extremely fun community.

"I would love to continue collaborating around the world. I want to share my art and keep spreading the concept and the bandaid. I truly believe that everyone can use some kind of fix, and if we all worked together, even just a little, we could heal each other.

Dede was commissioned by CHW to design the unique campaign logo illustrating a heart and lungs, which are the central focus of this year's annual campaign:

BREATHE LIFE GIVE LOVE

Support the campaign: www.breathelifegivelove.ca

Art with a sense of humour.

Artist credit: Dede Bandaid

Collecting stories and healing through art.

Artist credit: Dede Bandaid

Bonus feature: https://youtu.be/rbX9bO6R1SA

Bonus feature: https://youtu.be/6nsZSuaKsS4

Story from ORAH Magazine Spring 2022