Process

I had to leave my home in just a few days, and can't go back. Since then, I’ve lived in five countries, six cities, and countless shabby apartments, always trying to settle, to feel a little more like home. These past three years, I’ve constantly questioned my identity and self-worth. Am I a traitor or a decedent? Russian, Siberian, Israeli—or none of these?

This project is a way for me to return to the place that shaped me, to sift through it, and take something with me into my nomadic life—wherever I go next. I recreated landscapes from my childhood, using photos of real places and channeling my pain into the process. I started working in December, trying out big plaster plates that resembled landscapes. But I was looking for something more delicate, something that could hold more detail. In February, I switched to ceramics. It took time to learn the material—to find the balance with the right temperature and right clay, learn the glaze and underglaze techniques, do endless testings. This process lasted three intense months.

I decided to present the pieces as if they’re caught in the middle of unpacking. I built a custom box for them—something portable, where they will live and move with me. The lid of the box is covered with visuals from the journey—maps, notes, fragments of the search. An important part of the piece is the audio guide that takes the audience on a tour with me, painting the picture piece by piece, inviting them to travel with me.

This project is deeply personal. It's about memory, loss of identity, and finding pieces of home when you can’t go back. It's about what you carry.