Shira Wachsmann

My studio is my place where I am visualizing my thoughts and ideas.

What I do in one sentence: Generally I do what I love. More specific at the moment I am researching how historical memory shapes the landscape and how historical memory is transmitted in the landscape – through art. I am doing it with the help of the Cacti.

Why I didn’t get a proper job: It is a proper job.

An artwork I dream of and I would get accomplished if space, time and money were abundant: The works I am currently working on. I hope to get the money I need to continue with it the way I want to. I am currently working with a device based on Arduino uno that connects electrodes to the roots and leaves of a plant. The electrodes absorb frequencies from the plant and translates the frequencies with the help of Pure Data into sound. From these sound waves, I intend to gather data of the plant’s reactions. After a series of experiments I will synthesise these results into a series of maps made of information gathered only from the plants. The next step will be to connect the device to the cacti that still exist around former Palestinian villages. I want to hear the information that is retained in the plants from this area. Do they remember their past? And do they still contain, in some way, the information of the destroyed village? I am aiming, through this process to receive additional information from the world of plants, which is currently unknown to us. This visual body of work will be presented in the form of maps, collages and a live sound installation.

Why I do what I do: There is so much input in life and I think it’s my way of digesting it and finding a way through the chaos. By adding a little more packed chaos to the world . Maybe it’s some form of curiosity or a sense of adventure, but when I start a new work of art or project I never know how it will evolve, or end. It always takes me to new places and I am very grateful for that, just like life, but in a condensed and intense way. Creating reveals a certain kind of existential truth that I love. It’s not exactly a comfortable feeling, it can be very tough and frustrating, but I think I’m addicted to it.

Artists, I have on my watch list (and why): I am currently trying to come fresh to my works and not to look at too many artists who deal with maps or who create a system. But the few I do have in mind at the moment are Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Michael Druks and Sol LeWitt.

I am afraid of losing the people I love.

How I want to be buried resp. words I want to be written on my tombstone: I would like to be buried in a garden (not sure where yet) directly in the ground and I would like an almond tree to be planted at the same time so that its roots will be touching my belly. I will be very happy to unite with the future almonds.