In this series of drawings, I use graphite on silk to craft abstract landscapes that challenge conventional notions of figure and ground. Through a blend of direct tracing and mark-making techniques, I blur the lines between background and foreground, creating moments where they collapse into each other. These drawings aim to capture and document the ever-changing experience of the land, offering a space where the real and the imaginary overlap. Moving “Gan Eden” away from the mythological narratives of the Torah and what is now the State of Israel, I re-imagine the paradise-like realm of Eden in California. By doing so, I hope to shift notions of Jewish identity, emphasizing the significance of the environment in which I live.

 

These drawings give an opportunity to contemplate the complex landscape of California, with its own fraught and contentious history. For me, they strike a tension between the beauty of the scenery and the troubling realities of the past (and present). I aim to create a space where hope and despair can coexist, encouraging viewers to engage with the intricate relationship between beauty and history.