Land scape
Alicia Shahaf
CONTEMPORARY ART REVIEW
country was the feeling of freedom, freedom of expression, freedom of connection between people. The direct proximity to the people, the lack of formality. 3 years after we came to Israel the Yom Kippur War broke out. Then my parents decided to return to Argentina. Buenos Aires was in a political chaos: the army took over the country, people disappeared, freedom of speech was gone. There was a hard and dark feeling of fear in the streets. You must not talk. We were not allowed to say what we thought. And at the family level- Dad had a massive heart attack. My strong, powerful and revered father was ill, limited. Fear took over me during those years, personally and politically. I was afraid to say out loud what I think. I was afraid that Dad would die. When he died, the world finally collapsed. I was young, very young. And I had to take the role of the responsible adult. Mom began with the first signs of her mental illness. My little sister started the first signs of her eating disorder. Dad built an empire, but without him the economic situation was deteriorating, along with emotionally. We returned to Israel, to the hug of the extended family. During my studies at Camera Obscura I learned to process my personal history to visual art work. I was exposed to photographers who dealt with issues I feel identified. There I started to look for a way to express visually my feelings, my sadness, my angry.