Just Smoke 2007, 2007
A collaborative project with Reuven Zahavi
Video: 3’54 min (sound, animation and video by Reuven Zahavi)
This animation work was first exhibited as part of the site specific video installation at the Jerusalem Print Workshop during the multi-site interdisciplinary Art Event, Heara 11 – The Last Comment,which took place in October 2007. There the virtual smoke of ‘Just Smoke’ was enhanced by the actual smoke expelled by a smoke machine within the space.
The work relates to the military operation ‘Summer Rain’ (2006) that took place after the adduction by the Hamas of corporal Gilad Shalit at the Kerem Shalom crossing on June 2006. Artillery fired at open areas in the southern Gaza Strip and bridges in central Gaza while infantry, engineering and armoured forces entered in the southern and northern Gaza Strip. Qassam missiles were fired in retaliation into Southern Israel. This state of war led to the creation of a series of multi media projects with my colleague Reuven Zahavi around the theme ‘Night and Smoke.’
The work relates to the military operation ‘Summer Rain’ (2006) that took place after the adduction by the Hamas of corporal Gilad Shalit at the Kerem Shalom crossing on June 2006. Smoke from artillery firing at open areas in the southern Gaza Strip and at bridges in central Gaza while infantry, engineering and armoured forces entered the southern and northern Gaza Strip. Smoke from Qassam missiles being fired in retaliation into Southern Israel. This smoke emerging from armoured forces, blurring the vision were perceived by us as a metaphor for the covering up and the concealing of reality. This lack of transparency permeating society at many levels became an existential reality which left the individual vulnerable and powerless and without a sense of perspective.
