Portraits of Holocaust Survivors
2015
relief print (woodcut)
40x30in
2015
relief print (woodcut)
40x30in
These large-scale portraits explore the emotions that a human conveys through gestural line quality, human frailty, and simplicity. While conducting a series of interviews with Holocaust survivors, Ariel was able to hear about their stories and daily lives to better understand each individual. By entering their homes or sacred synagogues, her focus became about each individual’s unique human experience. Each portrait encourages the viewer to contemplate that one can’t possibly know the entirety of a person solely by studying appearance, though we inevitably try to bridge the separation between visuals and identification of story. While these portraits do not begin to depict the complex anatomy and psychology of a being, the expressive line quality brings forth a felt sensation that enables the viewer to create a relationship with the subjects of her work.
To make these prints, Ariel connected planks of pine wood with biscuit joints to create large wood blocks, and used various tools to carve each image. It required the hands of two people to ensure that the paper lay perfectly on the printing press before rolling it through to create a crisp, powerful image.