The exploration of the relationship between figure and background is deeply rooted in my childhood memories and experiences. An unsettling feeling permeates my paintings as I constantly question the relevance and connection of each element within them. Is this figure related to the one next to it? Should it be interpreted as a narrative moment, or is it merely a product of chance?

Growing up in Jerusalem, in the Middle East, provided a dynamic backdrop that first prompted my engagement with the concept of fragmentation. Surrounded by a tapestry of differences, I sought a formal language to address these contrasts. This environment inspired me to delve into the intricate interplay between figure and background, reflecting the fragmented experiences of those in my life—friends, family, and colleagues.

The figures in my paintings are based on varied sources: live model painting, art history, imagination. This diversity aids me in deconstruction a dominant gaze. Employing different techniques—charcoal, dry pastel, acrylic, and oil—I create diverse traces and marks on the canvas. My work engages critically with art history and its representations of gender and human relations. Through this exploration, I discover new ways in which figure and background relate, capturing social interactions that yield multiple narratives and interpretations.

I utilize figuration with an unexpected frequency to emphasize the gap between form and meaning. My art is a balancing act, shaped by every facet of my body, mind, and imagination. Through it I bring into question traditional hierarchies between subject and background, and its link to imagination. This is a dialogue with the viewer, whom I invite to contemplate strangeness, the complexities of identity and connection, encouraging a deeper understanding of the relationships between figures and their backgrounds.

​

​