This body of work is based on a photo series I made for and about my grandmother. Sabta is a Hebrew word that means "grandmother.". My grandmother, Sabta, wasn't the ideal grandmother. She wasn't a legendary cook or a teller of old tales. She didn't offer us any wise advice. She did, however, insist on me photographing her, creating the scene, and directing the entire photo shoot. As I shot, she posed and described to me her daily routine, a collection of trivial acts that she proudly called her life. She overacted and was beautifully artificial… But for the first time, I felt a connection with her. Between the clicks, we discovered each other. Shortly thereafter, my Sabta passed away, and those photos became her legacy. Creating the series was a cathartic experience. I was compelled to replicate and extend those moments, I wanted to render the map of her face, to reuse her belongings, and learn how to knit. The works that developed from my photo session with Sabta are a combination of black and white acrylic painted real scale portraits, knitting, and incorporated objects from her past. This was my Sabta.
