“The Waters were Abated”
October 7th marks a day that turned Israeli reality on its head. The unprecedented terror attack left a profound mark on the national consciousness, destabilizing the sense of personal security and raising questions about concepts previously taken for granted. What can be done when spaces intended to protect us turn into death traps? How do we cope with the fear and anxiety that accompany each step in a new and unpredictable reality?
The project traces the depth of the Jewish people’s trauma in the wake of the “Al-Aqsa flood” events, both on a personal and collective level, and its reflection in the physical and conscious space. Beyond questions of security and safe spaces, the project explores the inner landscapes of trauma and the ways it permeates into the symbols, language and spaces that we inhabit. It offers a new interpretation of “safe space” – which beyond its use to describe a useful solution to security threats, is also be a mirror reflecting the legacy of existential and cultural struggles in Israel.
I seek to adopt a new perspective on the connection between trauma, space and security within the Israeli context, through a journey of internal and external exploration, confronting critical questions, and aspiring to create a world where we can live in peace, even when facing painful memories. Can hope be found among the ruins? Can we rebuild a safe space – not only for our physical safety but also for our spirit and soul?
In a journey between the boundaries of reality and imagination, between the past and the future, the question arises: How do we move forward within a post-traumatic reality? In the transition between the symbolic and the tangible, the physical and the conscious, I attempt to rethink the way we deal with past traumas and threats. The project focuses on the Gaza – Jerusalem road as a central route at the heart of the conflict. Along this historic road, I propose an intervention in both the physical and symbolic space – a series of “switches” functioning as a multi-layered defense system. These stations are designed not only to provide physical protection against the real threat of an “Al-Aqsa flood”, but also to serve as symbols of resilience, addressing both security and conscious challenges. Each station fulfills a unique role in preventing the advancement of the threat, while maintaining a dialog with the natural and historical landscape. Beyond the physical aspect, the project invites a journey on a new, stronger, and more stable path, which regards the acknowledgment of the ideological and religious complexity of the conflict and our vulnerability as a necessity, so that we can face any challenge and threat.
Link to the presentation (in Hebrew): https://youtu.be/7G0hEwR5Us4
