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in the field where the poppies bloom
Seven thousand tea light candles, seven 150 mm candles (and counting), soil mixed with flower petals and broken ceramic/porcelain, dried flowers, found objects, second-hand furniture, archival images, keffiyeh, books Variable dimensions 2025 |
A large-scale installation which originated with a performance, SEVEN THOUSAND PYRES, where people were invited to light seven thousand candles, which I would then carefully extinguish by pouring soil mixed with flower petals on them.
Over the course of ten months, the installation evolved into a space not only of mourning the unfolding genocide, but also of memoria larga (long memory) and a way of honoring indigenous struggles for life and self determination.
Over the course of ten months, the installation evolved into a space not only of mourning the unfolding genocide, but also of memoria larga (long memory) and a way of honoring indigenous struggles for life and self determination.
Installation view at artist's studio in Lichtenberg, 2024
Culterim Open Studio Berlin - 2025
Smaller version of the installation consisting of seven hundred small candles and seven larger ones to symbolize the ongoing nature of the genocide, displayed during Culterim's Open Studios event in June 2025. This version included a video projection which used archival photographs and video of Gaza (from late 1800s to early 2000s) from open sources such including the Internet Archive, Library of Congress, Washington D.C., and the Palestinian Museum Digital Archive.
The images shown as part of the projection during the Culterim open studio are credited as follows:
Image 1: The Popular Education Program, Khan Yunis, 1988, The Zahira Kamal Collection at the Palestinian Museum Digital Archive
Image 2: The Khan of Prince Yunis (Barquq Castle) in Khan Yunis in Gaza, Yousef-al-Qutob Collection at the Palestinian Museum Digital Archive
Image 1: The Popular Education Program, Khan Yunis, 1988, The Zahira Kamal Collection at the Palestinian Museum Digital Archive
Image 2: The Khan of Prince Yunis (Barquq Castle) in Khan Yunis in Gaza, Yousef-al-Qutob Collection at the Palestinian Museum Digital Archive
Everything That Dies Inside Us group exhibition Berlin - 2026
Smaller version of this installation consisting of 1,500 small candles was part of the Everything That Dies Inside Us exhibition September 2026, along with the video projection of SEVEN THOUSAND PYRES. There was also a small box with more candles in the corner of the installation. The instructions above it read:
Take a candle from the box next to the stairs. Hold it close to you and think of a life that was extinguished in Gaza during this time. Say a prayer if you wish. When you’re done, carefully place the candle somewhere in the installation.
Take a candle from the box next to the stairs. Hold it close to you and think of a life that was extinguished in Gaza during this time. Say a prayer if you wish. When you’re done, carefully place the candle somewhere in the installation.
Credit for the fourth image in photo gallery above: Daniele Vidoni. Everything That Dies Inside Us. 2026.