David Avidan

David Avidan (1934 - May 11, 1995) was an Israeli "poet, painter, filmmaker, publicist and playwright" (as he often put it). Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Avidan studied Literature and Philosophy at the Hebrew University, but did not graduate. He is considered by many to be one of the most prominent and influential poets in Israeli history. He wrote mostly in Hebrew, and was generally acknowledged as an avant-garde artist throughout his life, in several different arts. Avidan translated many of his own poems into English, and received several awards both as a poet and as a translator.

Nevertheless, he was by no means very popular among most critics, nor with the general public. His first book, "Lipless Faucets" (1954), was attacked by nearly all poetry critics; the first good review was that of Gabriel Moked, editor of the literary quarterly "Akhshav", and later one of Avidan's closest friends. Not only his art, but also his character, were constantly disputed. He was often condemned as egocentric, chauvinistic and technocratic. The quality of his later poetry was claimed to be inferior to that of his early works, although some critics (esp. those who favor postmodern and experimental trends in poetry) disagree.

Public interest in him diminished year by year, and by the early 1990s he could scarcely make a living, while both his financial and mental condition were very much shattered. He died in Tel Aviv, where he was born, the city which played a central role in his life, and was, in many ways, the center of his creation.

Books (poetry) - partial list

• Lipless Faucets, 1954
• Pressure Poems, 1962
• Something for Someone, 1964
• A Book of Possibilities - Poems and More, 1985