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Love, Laughter and the Ephemeral Nature of Balloons with Balloon Artist Addi Somekh
In this episode, Caroline is talking to the incredible Addi Somekh who began twisting balloons as a random summer job at the age of eighteen. Addi found an uncanny ability to create hats that reflected the wearer's personality. Over the last 30 years he, and photographer Charlie Eckert, have travelled to 35 countries making and photographing balloon hats and crowns and gifting them to the people they met. This was all part of his investigation into the universal nature of joy. Addi has also created huge balloon sculptures, is an author, TEDX speaker, starred in his own reality show, and plays the balloon bass in his band Unpopable. The music that you hear in this episode is courtesy of Addi's band and features the distinctive sound of the balloon bass.
During the episode, Addi explains how unrequited love and sadness got him started on this incredible odyssey. He explains how his ability to see people’s auras feeds into his balloon art and provides a fascinating insight into laughter. Enjoy as we look at life through a latex coloured lens.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Learning the building blocks of something well enables you to improvise and create more interesting things.
- People appreciate it when you work hard to produce something unique to them.
- Balloon are ephemeral in nature.
- Sometimes telling the naked truth is cruel.
- Don’t become so focused that you are not open to the unknown.
- You can’t laugh with someone you don’t trust.
- When you create joy for others, it bounces back and feeds you too.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I was able to capture their personalities somehow in this balloon sculpture.’
‘Balloons are so ephemeral and non-threatening.’
‘Paradox is actually kind of the operating system and the mystery of the world.’
‘Laughter sounds the same in every language.’
ABOUT THE GUEST
Addi Somekh - Balloon Artist
Addi Somekh is a uniquely talented individual and is recognized as one of the most innovative, prolific and well-traveled balloon artists in the world. A self-taught balloon twister, his style incorporates improvisation, abstract design and comic delivery, culminating in custom-made headdresses that have an uncanny ability to reflect the wearer’s personality. Addi’s balloon hats have taken him around the world with photographer Charlie Eckert. Their travels resulted in the book The Inflatable Crown (2001, Chronicle Books).
In 2011, Addi starred in the TLC reality show, “The Unpoppables”, which followed his LA-based company, New Balloon Art, as they built impossibly large, interactive balloon installations at high-end events. Outside of the balloon world, Addi teaches a philosophy course at UC Santa Cruz entitled, “Meaning, Paradox and Love”, which has grown from 13 to 130 students in only four semesters. Addi’s favorite way to procrastinate and avoid reality is to play the balloon bass—a 3-and-a-half octave, 100% latex, super-funky inflatable bass.
SOCIALS AND EPISODE RESOURCES
http://www.inflatableplanet.com
IG: @inflatableplanet
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/newballoonart
https://twitter.com/newballoonart
Introducing the Inflatable Planet book
Here's a link to Addi playing balloon bass: https://fb.watch/i3-luIR9x2/
ABOUT THE HOST
Bio
Caroline Partridge is a unique and creative individual. She is an actress, puppeteer, educator, and artist with funny bones. She loves a story and is an expert at conveying wit and wisdom with warmth, understanding, and empathy.
CONTACT METHOD
FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/caropartridge
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-partridge-03131520
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/partridge_caroline
PODCAST DESCRIPTION
This is a podcast series about discovery, understanding, revelation, and stories.
How we perceive the world is rooted in everything that has influenced us throughout our lives, emotionally and psychologically. We become the sum of our parts and each of us has our own unique view of the world. 'Vision' truly is an act of interpretation.
In this podcast series through fascinating conversations, I set about trying to understand how we form our perceptions, view different perspectives, and examine how perception has influenced, inspired, or hindered the lives of each of my unique guests.
View all episodes
By Caroline PartridgeIn this episode, Caroline is talking to the incredible Addi Somekh who began twisting balloons as a random summer job at the age of eighteen. Addi found an uncanny ability to create hats that reflected the wearer's personality. Over the last 30 years he, and photographer Charlie Eckert, have travelled to 35 countries making and photographing balloon hats and crowns and gifting them to the people they met. This was all part of his investigation into the universal nature of joy. Addi has also created huge balloon sculptures, is an author, TEDX speaker, starred in his own reality show, and plays the balloon bass in his band Unpopable. The music that you hear in this episode is courtesy of Addi's band and features the distinctive sound of the balloon bass.
During the episode, Addi explains how unrequited love and sadness got him started on this incredible odyssey. He explains how his ability to see people’s auras feeds into his balloon art and provides a fascinating insight into laughter. Enjoy as we look at life through a latex coloured lens.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Learning the building blocks of something well enables you to improvise and create more interesting things.
- People appreciate it when you work hard to produce something unique to them.
- Balloon are ephemeral in nature.
- Sometimes telling the naked truth is cruel.
- Don’t become so focused that you are not open to the unknown.
- You can’t laugh with someone you don’t trust.
- When you create joy for others, it bounces back and feeds you too.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I was able to capture their personalities somehow in this balloon sculpture.’
‘Balloons are so ephemeral and non-threatening.’
‘Paradox is actually kind of the operating system and the mystery of the world.’
‘Laughter sounds the same in every language.’
ABOUT THE GUEST
Addi Somekh - Balloon Artist
Addi Somekh is a uniquely talented individual and is recognized as one of the most innovative, prolific and well-traveled balloon artists in the world. A self-taught balloon twister, his style incorporates improvisation, abstract design and comic delivery, culminating in custom-made headdresses that have an uncanny ability to reflect the wearer’s personality. Addi’s balloon hats have taken him around the world with photographer Charlie Eckert. Their travels resulted in the book The Inflatable Crown (2001, Chronicle Books).
In 2011, Addi starred in the TLC reality show, “The Unpoppables”, which followed his LA-based company, New Balloon Art, as they built impossibly large, interactive balloon installations at high-end events. Outside of the balloon world, Addi teaches a philosophy course at UC Santa Cruz entitled, “Meaning, Paradox and Love”, which has grown from 13 to 130 students in only four semesters. Addi’s favorite way to procrastinate and avoid reality is to play the balloon bass—a 3-and-a-half octave, 100% latex, super-funky inflatable bass.
SOCIALS AND EPISODE RESOURCES
http://www.inflatableplanet.com
IG: @inflatableplanet
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/newballoonart
https://twitter.com/newballoonart
Introducing the Inflatable Planet book
Here's a link to Addi playing balloon bass: https://fb.watch/i3-luIR9x2/
ABOUT THE HOST
Bio
Caroline Partridge is a unique and creative individual. She is an actress, puppeteer, educator, and artist with funny bones. She loves a story and is an expert at conveying wit and wisdom with warmth, understanding, and empathy.
CONTACT METHOD
FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/caropartridge
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-partridge-03131520
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/partridge_caroline
PODCAST DESCRIPTION
This is a podcast series about discovery, understanding, revelation, and stories.
How we perceive the world is rooted in everything that has influenced us throughout our lives, emotionally and psychologically. We become the sum of our parts and each of us has our own unique view of the world. 'Vision' truly is an act of interpretation.
In this podcast series through fascinating conversations, I set about trying to understand how we form our perceptions, view different perspectives, and examine how perception has influenced, inspired, or hindered the lives of each of my unique guests.