selected works from 1985-2009
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Sometimes I like a happy ending; sometimes I like a sad ending (2009) random objects random thoughts (2009) Signs of Life: an intimate portrait of someone I don't know (2008) Le stade du Miroir (2003) you are on my mind (2003) Family Album (2002) between two points (2001) Doing Time (2000) Staging Memory (2000) I should have, I could have, I would have... ...if only (1998) I am ... (1998) The Veiled Room (1998) Projections for the Unseeing (1997) A Portable Viewing Station for Anxious Travelers (1994) In Memoriam Forgetting and Remembering Fragments of History (1993) Measure of the Man (1992) Fragments for a Story (1991) Search for Definition (1991) Isn't your/my mother beautiful? (1990) Neon for j.e. atkinson (1990) My lips are sealed (1989) Contradictions and Possibilities (1988) In the room (1987) Hide and Seek (1985) Back to Back (1985) |
In Memoriam: Forgetting and Remembering Fragments of History, 1993
Materials: Felt, steel, glass, lucite, LED board Dimensions: size variable Exhibition: Koffler Gallery, Toronto. Photo credit: Isaac Applebaum. In Memoriam: Forgetting and Remembering Fragments of History is an installation in two parts; The Felt Room and The Glass Room. It is concerned with memory, history and identity and challenges objective history. The Felt Room is a 7 x 7 x 7 ft. square steel and felt enclosure, attached to the ceiling with steel cables. The entrance to the room leads to an interior space, empty except for an LED board that scrolls a text composed of fragments of newspaper reports and private thoughts. The text refers to Swedish diplomat, Raoul Wallenberg's heroic deeds during the Holocaust in Budapest, Hungary. In The Glass Room light from above shines on words etched on glass shelves casting shadows on the wall below. One text contains a fantasy about solitary confinement and survival. Another wall of shelves etched with single words are reflected shadows. The Felt Room (7 x 7 x 7 ft.)
LISTEN CAREFULLY……
THIS IS…..IMPORTANT…………….. LOOK AT ME, WATCH ME…………. SWEDISH DIPLOMAT………………. SAVES…………..100,000 JEWS IN BUDAPEST……………………….. RAOUL WALLENBERG…………SCION OF A WEALTHY FAMILY…………. AND A……..NON-JEW…….. AT GREAT PERSONAL RISK……………………… SINGLE HANDEDLY SAVED MORE JEWS THAN WHOLE GOVERNMENTS………… THIS “ANGEL OF RESCUE” WAS KIDNAPPED BY THE RED ARMY AND NEVER SEEN AGAIN OUTSIDE A SOVIET PRISON………………………… SORRY……………..I…………………..CAN’’T……………………………… HEAR YOU……………………………SORRY…………………..SORRY………………. I CAN’T SEE YOU………………………………………………………………………….. WALLENBERG DIDN’T LOOK LIKE A HERO…………………………… HE WAS NOT THE SQUARE - JAW TYPE………………………………. HIS SLIGHTLY BALDING HEAD MADE HIM LOOK TOO YOUNG AND SENSITIVE…………………………………………………………………… FOR THE NIGHTMARISH JOB AHEAD………………………………… CLASSMATES RECALL HIM AS WARM AND FRIENDLY, NOT SNOBBISH………. HE WAS NOT FEARLESS BY NATURE…………………………………………………. I AM TELLING YOU A STORY WHICH I CANNOT TELL……………………………… (I HAVE BEEN SWORN TO SECRECY)……………………………… WE LISTEN WE HEAR WE SPEAK WE SPEAK WE HEAR WE LISTEN WE LISTEN WE HEAR WE SPEAK…………………………………………………. SOME BELIEVE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SURVIVE SOVIET PRISON FOR SO MANY YEARS………………………………………………………………………………….. OTHERS BELIEVE A MAN LIKE WALLENBERG MIGHT……………………….. DIDN’T LOOK LIKE A HERO……………………………… OVERLY PROMINENT NOSE……….WEAK CHIN………………………….. THINNING HAIR……..TOO SOFT…….TOO CEREBRAL………………….. I……………WAS…………………………….TRYING TO………………………….. FORGET…………..NO……………I MEAN………………. I…………………………….WAS……………………………………………………. TRYING TO………………………………………………………REMEMBER………. AND…………………………………….IN JULY 1944…………………………………… AT THE AGE OF 32…………………THIS SCION OF AN ARISTOCRATIC FAMILY ………………….OF SWEDISH LUTHERANS………………………… ………………..BANKERS AND INDUSTRIALISTS……………………………. HE HAD A CONSUMING SENSE OF DUTY HE WAS A DRIVEN MAN HE WAS A GREAT ACTOR AND COULD IMITATE BRILLIANTLY…………………. MYSTERY SURROUNDS THE FATE OF THE SWEDE WHO SAVED THE JEWS ………………………….SORRY…………………………..I………………………….. ……………..FORGOT……………………………SORRY……………I …………… CAN’T…………………………. REMEMBER……………………AND………………. IN THE PRIVACY OF EMPTY ROOMS……………………………………………….. I………………………………………………YOU…………………………………… |
