There are moments in a photographer’s life that can only be described as “visual regret.” It’s that feeling when an incredible scene unfolds before your eyes, and you have no way to capture it. That was exactly how my acquaintance with the Israeli Davai Group began.
In 2021, I went to see their legendary show, “Under Construction,” for the first time. Being a responsible visitor, I left my camera at home, firmly believing that such a performance would strictly forbid photography. For the next hour, I sat in my seat, captivated. Before me was pure magic: a trio of brilliant madmen – Fyodor Makarov, Losha Gavrielov, and Vitaly Azarin – creating something transcendent on stage.
It wasn’t just a play; it was living art, a symphony of old planks, dust, light, and the sublime absurd. Three characters, trapped in an endless “construction” process while waiting for a kettle to boil, conveyed more emotion without a single word than most do with a script. Every frame, every beam of light, and every fold of their costumes begged to be photographed.
Imagine my shock (and slight frustration!) when, at the very end, it was announced that photography was not only allowed but encouraged.
As I left the theater, I knew two things:
That marked the beginning of my personal marathon. I returned in 2022, fully armed to finally “document” the chaos. But once wasn’t enough. “Under Construction” is a living organism. It breathes, evolves, and gains new nuances depending on the audience’s mood and the actors’ improvisation.
I found myself returning again and again: in 2023, 2024, and most recently, in 2025. Five times I watched that kettle boil, and every single time I saw something new. For me as a photographer, it was a unique opportunity to return to the same set and the same characters, yet try to catch that fleeting spark of talent from a completely new angle.
Fyodor, Losha, and Vitaly are true alchemists. They turn mundane objects into poetry and the audience into accomplices in their madness. If you haven’t seen them in action yet, I truly envy you – you have a grand discovery ahead. And if you have… well, then you understand why I kept going back for five years straight.
Below are the fruits of my five-year “photo hunt.” Four perspectives on the same masterpiece.
My photo galleries of “Under Construction” through the years:
