Bio | Addi Somekh

Addi Somekh is recognized as one of the most innovative, prolific and well-traveled balloon artists in the world today. 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, as he traveled to 34 countries with photographer Charlie Eckert, making hats for people for free and photographing them, in a kind of rolling investigation into the universal nature of laughter. Their travels resulted in the book The Inflatable Crown ( 2001, Chronicle Books), three wall calendars (2002-2004), and the documentary film Balloonhat (2005, directed by AG Vermouth). Film Threat Magazine said “[the film Balloonhat] is an astounding emotional documentary, one of the best we’ll see this decade and the best of any decade.”

Just as the principles of improvisation permeate his artistic balloon work, Addi is a natural and spontaneous public speaker and humorist. On television he was selected to be featured in the prestigious Keep Walking campaign created by Johnny Walker Whiskey which aired on CNN and Discovery. His appearance on Martha Stewart Living was described as one of the all-time favorite episodes by the show's staff.  He has also given hundreds of slide shows at schools, ranging from first grade to college.

In print media, Addi’s balloon work has been featured in such diverse publications as Martha Stewart Living, In Touch Magazine, SOMA Magazine, The Christian Science Monitor, & The Los Angeles Times.

Most recently Addi has bridged his talent with balloons into the realm of music. Addi is proficient in the balloon bass, a one string, 3-1/2 octave all- latex instrument, and performs in Unpopable, a duo with electric guitarist Henry Bermudez. He is also the creator of the balloon drums and producer of the Balloon Drum Duets album featuring respected jazz drummers Danny Frankel and Kenny Wollesen.

Outside of balloon work, Addi is the author (along with photographer Charlie Eckert) of Mary Holmes: Paintings and Ideas (2002, Very Press) which author Ray Bradbury described as “a fascinating book about an amazing woman”. In all these facets of Addi’s purpose as an artist, there is a heartfelt desire to bring spontaneity and laughter into people’s lives, and hopefully to remind them of the joyful yet fleeting nature of things.

   

Press/Articles:

LA Weekly
Los Angeles Times (pdf version)
NPR Interview (audio)
Metro Santa Cruz
Daydream Believers Interview
Balloonhat in Africa Travelogue

For press, click HERE.

For more photos of Addi at work, click HERE.