M - my closest friend and her husband U, both Israelis who live in the UK for 3 years.
For this intervention, again, I took a few elements from my quilt, before mounting them together - these elements are part of my sensory experience. I asked the participants to react to the elements, without having previous knowledge of the elements: What is the element? what is it used for? which sense should be used to experience the element? How does it make her feel? did it provoke any memory or emotion? The elements that I used are:
A fabric case packed with dry leaves
M: I don't like that I can't see the leaves, I want to be able to see the leaves. For me, it looks like a big pillow that you want to rest your head on it, but when you do, it doesn't feel so comfortable because it filled with dried leaves so it's not soft. I don't find it very engaging.
U: It reminds me jogging in the woods, with the dried leaves, I like the sound of it.
Bubble wrap -
M: I remember I used to like this when I was a child, it was more interesting than the item it was wrapped in... anyway, I don't feel that anymore.
U: nothing.
Incentive oil - ocean mix -
M: great smell, clean, cool, I like it.
U: I like it too.
Photo collage of the beach
M: wow, it makes me want to go to the beach now... so many beaches, but when I start to look closely I see that it's not really my beach, and it's not my experience, because you don't see people or animals, and I'm missing the sounds and the whole experience.
U: so many beaches, same elements but so different. You can see the beach throughout the day, from different angles, feels a bit strange, deserted, impersonal, you don't see people, you are not sure where the beaches are located, some of them you don't see the sand.
*** The beach and ocean is something that comes up a lot as a positive experience, do you think that being Israeli you feel that it's something that represent your ideal?
M: yes, definitely, for me it's freedom and vacation and a lot of things that most connected to the Israeli beach or at least Mediterranean.
embroidery - Lyrics from "Lovesong" by the cure (H)
M: it's nice, I like the conflict between the idea of the embroidery ring and the was the embroidery looks clean, modern, minimalist colours. I know the song, it's not a modern song, it's from the eighties so it's more of our childhood, but it's a nice song. The piece is interesting, I like that it's not done, the ring is still connected, and the fabric is not cut nicely, it makes it more interesting.
U: for me, I don't see a conflict, between the song and the idea of home, because the lyrics are about home, and it does look like "home sweet home" kind of embroidery, but I like the feeling that it's not finished yet, that makes it more interesting.
The following printed 10X15 photos:
The scream (Edvard Munch) K
Sunday in the park (George Seurat) K
U: oh, I know this one, feels like in Museum, a bit central park, I'm not a big fan.
M: I don't really like it either, doesn't feel relaxed or real, looks like paused.
Bathers at Asnieres (George Seurat) L
U: same
M: same
View of the ocean the beach -
A spreading her arms facing the beach
A holding her grandmother's hand
M: beautiful photo, sad, emotional, old, but also hope, love, closeness.
U: It is a nice photo but for me is old people and death.
Holocaust
M: It's my photo! yes, so sad, and powerful, strong, photo, uncomprehending amount of sorrow, horror
U: it's your photo? seriously? I don't know...
Do you have any reflection on it, being Jewish people outside of Israel?
M: yes, definitely, but I try not to think about it or let it interfere with my life.
Y Triathlon
M: great photo, strong, high achiever, fun, excitement.
U:
Y daughter at the beach
I talked to Michal about my thought on our intervention - I told her that I should have recorded them, which I didn't.
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