ART Habens Maya Gelfman spaces that encourage deep contemplation . Through them I want to deal with the dichotomy that one reality can reflect many and that there is no one definition . In that spirit I explore how extremities collide and more importantly how this collision ignites a change , thus opening a window of opportunity for something new to occur .
What makes a thing personal ? What makes it generic ? There is no neutral ground . Try as we may , our premises and reactions could never be completely objective and I don ' t believe they should . By being aware of this inevitable subjectivity I choose to seek a wider point of view , while reminding myself that it ' ll none-the-less be partial . Making a choice is an active statement and what develops responsive individuality . Black Birds - the one that got away was exhibited in a deserted military base on the Israel / Lebanon border . The hills that are seen from the windows are beyond the borderline , but purely geographically speaking - they are a continuous part of the view . It ' s the same piece of earth and the borders are man-made . I don ' t consider myself a political artist , at least not in the traditional sense , but the personal is political and my introspection has a trans-formative intention . I examine things also in the light of the collective conscious , as I try to reconcile conflicts and contradictions , and to ask how gaps can become motivators and the source of strength .
The image of birds taking to flight is a familiar one . It epitomizes an idea of hope , freedom and movement . It outlines the desire to break free and fly high . The yarn balls act as chains , they demonstrate a powerful tension between the pulling force of the ground and the endless promise of the open sky . That tension refers to inhibitions , restraints and the dissonance between wanting to move on and the things that hold us back - whether they are political , geographical , socioeconomic , gender-based or personal . In the late 1990s , I served in the army as a field medic . I was stationed just outside Ramallah , a major Palestinian city . In this position , I had the privilege and obligation to land emergency medical help to both sides .
I ' m no expert on these matters and don ' t presume to pass judgment . I have my opinions but am also well aware that things are never black and white . I ' ve encountered so many shades of grey and facets of humanity , and these gave me a better understanding of systems and forces . It was a humbling lesson in both being powerless and about the power that individuals can possess . How seemingly small gestures have a rippling effect and can become the power of many - for better or for worse .
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