He’s a master mentalist whose work exists at the intersection of psychology and human connection. But for Israeli magician Asi Wind the magic only becomes real when the audience gets involved.
“One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned as a magician is that, no matter how convincingly we craft an illusion, it only becomes real if the audience desires to see it,” Wind told The AJN. “In essence, the magic is completed in their minds, making them co-authors of the experience, which I find profoundly beautiful.”
This philosophy has propelled Wind from a shy 13-year-old discovering magic at a birthday party to one of the most innovative mentalists working today.
Wind’s journey to the stage began in Tel Aviv, where he grew up dyslexic and undiagnosed. So much so that people just thought he was slower to understand things. Yet this same young man, who found things challenging, would grow to perform feats of extraordinary mental ability, memorising shuffled decks of cards, solving multiple Rubik’s Cubes simultaneously, and recalling the names and faces of hundreds of audience members.
“I consider myself fortunate to have discovered magic at just 13 years old,” Wind reflected. “Had I been an adult, I might have talked myself out of pursuing a career as a magician, finding countless reasons why it couldn’t work.”
He vividly remembers that first encounter, feeling utterly amazed that a person could create such wonders. “As a shy kid, magic became my way to break out of my shell and helped me grow into the best version of myself.”
Wind has often pondered the disproportionate number of Jewish magicians who have achieved worldwide renown, including Harry Houdini, David Copperfield and David Blaine. And he truly believes there’s a pattern and a reason.
“I’ve always been intrigued by the fact that many of the world’s most renowned magicians and mentalists are Jewish,” he said. “I believe there’s a meaningful connection between Jewish culture and the art of magic. While you don’t often see many Jewish athletes, I think that’s because our culture tends to prioritise knowledge, curiosity and the power of the mind. This emphasis on intellect and mental challenge has undoubtedly influenced my own path and career choices as a magician.”
Growing up in a traditional Jewish home, Wind recalls loving his rabbi, whom he described as a terrific storyteller and showman who was fun and accepting, and didn’t force religion on anyone. That early influence shaped his understanding that the best performances come not from showing off, but from genuine connection.
Unlike magicians who maintain distance between performer and audience, Wind’s shows are a dialogue.
“As a performer, what I value most is forming genuine connections with people,” Wind explained. “My intention is never to show off my skills, but to share something I’m genuinely passionate about. I want to invite the audience to see the beauty I find in magic and experience it together with them.”
This approach takes on special urgency in our current technological moment. Wind finds it unsettling that artificial intelligence now mimics us completely, right down to how we think.
“We now live in the age of AI,” he observed. “This raises an important question: do we want our connections to be mediated by microchips, or do we still value genuine human interaction? I hope that my show serves as a reminder of our extraordinary capabilities and the remarkable things we can achieve with our own minds. [My show] More Than Magic is a celebration of the human mind.”
Wind’s philosophy extends to how we experience mystery itself. In an age where every answer seems just a tap away, magic offers the permission to not understand.
“We live in an age where it feels like we have all the answers,” he noted. “Yet, some of the most wonderful and powerful moments in life defy explanation. Magic reminds us that it’s okay not to be in control or to analyse everything; sometimes, we can let things be.”
He draws a parallel to cinema, where suspension of disbelief allows us to forget about cameras and lighting and lose ourselves completely in an imaginary world. His goal is to understand human psychology and perception deeply enough to design illusions that inspire people to create something in their minds that feels as close to real magic as possible.
“I still remember the first time I witnessed something that left me in awe,” he said. “But after learning the secret, the sense of wonder was gone. In a way, I rely on the audience to remind me of what magic feels like. Through their reactions, I get to relive that feeling myself.”
Performing at the Sydney Opera House represents a milestone on multiple levels for Wind. As a passionate watercolour painter, he’s especially excited to visit a country that has inspired some of his favourite artists.
“For me, every performance is a privilege – whether it’s in someone’s living room, a small village, or a grand venue,” he said. “What truly matters is the connection I build with the audience. That said, performing at one of the world’s most iconic theatres is undeniably exhilarating. I’m not only thrilled to take the stage at the Sydney Opera House, but also to visit Australia for the first time.”
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