מאין
יבוא עזרי
(For Michael.)
Cassi-Lee Gewer
Pastel on board and
cardboard
2014
From whence shall my help
cometh? Life and death are two common notions that surround us daily
– it is how they are dealt with that defines them. Both drawings
are of scenes captured by Cassi-Lee Gewer at Har Herzl (the Israeli
military cemetery in Jerusalem). This is a place that is dear to her
heart, one in which she states established and now enhances her
connection with Israel.
In the first drawing – the
scene displays an ritual that Cassi-Lee follows, whereby she will
journey to Har Herzl in order to water the graves of the fallen
soldiers. This is when the irony between life and death comes into
play – the act of going to a cemetery, which is a place surrounded
by death in order to sustain and provide life to the flora which
rests on the grave of the soldier. The word rest used in the context
of Har Herzl, is in connection to the symbolism of the grave
representing a bed, the tombstone being its pillow and the flowers
imitating a blanket. Another connection between the two artworks and
Har Herzl is that each grave at the military cemetery has one stone
that is places unevenly – making it stand out. This then represents
the part of the nation that is now missing. Within both of the
drawings there is a substantial segment missing. Relating to the
incompleteness of the artwork- being dedicated to those who have
fallen, the artwork is eternally without its viewers.
The water symbolises our
impact on this country, our responsibility to honour, remember and
therefore protect the names of those who are not with us today. The
duty of the soldier to protect (as seen within the drawing), together
with the protection of the flowers over the grave are both ironic
when placed within a site such as Har Herzl – a place that honours
the protection that as a country and as a nation, we lost. Once more
in connection to the theme of vacancy.
The title of the artwork
“מאין יבוא עזרי" comes
from a psalm that is dedicated to the honouring of those troops who
we have lost and the protection of the ones that are fighting today.
The personal journey between
the artist and life and death is evident within the artworks, the
title being in Hebrew as Cassi-Lee is in a transition zone of placing
Hebrew as her dominant language over English, honouring Israel as she
plans to make her stay here permanent – therefore the death of her
South African citizenship and the birth of an Israeli one. The irony
of Cassi-Lee seeking Har Herzl in order to gather her thoughts and
rejuvenate – symbolism the death of her negative energy and the new
life of a positive one.
The two artworks although
completely separate are connected by the piece of paper that has been
torn from the page and placed on the other. Symbolising those who
have been departed from the physical world, who have completed their
mission which is unknown to us and who are now placed in Har Herzl
and are resting in a place unknown to the living mankind.
We raise our heads to
those who grace the graves that line the floors of Har Herzl, we all
salute those who have protected us and we will continue to water and
guard our country with protection, strength and life so that no more
beds will have to be made.
Lo Yanum Velo Yiyshan
Shomer Yisrael.
לא
ינום ולא יישן שומר ישראל
He that keepth Israel
doth neither slumber nor sleep.
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