This series explores the concept of a guardian—both the human aspect, embodying the compassionate act of accompanying someone through their final moments, and the inexorable force that “arrives” to guide a soul after death. I’ve been in a few rooms awaiting the death of a loved one. In Jewish (and in the end, human) custom, you are not allowed to leave the dying's side, so that they do not face death alone. In those rooms, it feels like there’s a shadow on the wall: watching and waiting. Maybe it's a projection of the subconscious knowledge that this is a human’s last moments, or maybe it’s something more supernatural. Either way, it’s there every time.

 

I’ve been exploring this unstoppable figure (death), through symbolism and mythology. What could this shadow be? This an angelic, terrifying creature of death, come to guide you, come to stop your life, come to collect your soul, etc... What could be coming? Can I make it beautiful?

 

I show moments of tension between the dying and death itself, as well as between the dying, death, and its spectators. Yet, there are moments of calm within the work, such as The Embrace, demonstrating a peaceful acceptance of death. There are also moments of violence, war almost between humans and death like ICU at WAR. ICU at WAR was inspired by my grandfather, who lived to be 98. To get to that age took a lot of medical intervention, to the point it felt unnatural. This piece deals with more of a human perception of death, as an unruly beast we must keep at bay, in contrast to the other works which demonstrate a mutual understanding of what is occurring.

​