“Bell is dedicated to the trauma caused by witnessing ongoing war, [in my case] in Ukraine. In this work—and a larger series titled Spring—I use metaphor to explore how to represent the complex, multiple impacts of the past on the present and future. The blackened skeleton of a house looms like a ghost, a haunting reminder of the sacrifice, loss, and rupture that war brings. But where only ashes remain, the possibility of growth remains. As the future unfolds, a vital question matures: What will grow from destruction, oblivion, and loss—and can we shape this growth? Can we nurture this potential?
Over the next few months, I’ll invite participants to share a story, memory, or wish that they, like an insect in amber, would like to preserve for the future. This story—whether sad, uplifting, or deeply personal—should be about something that resonates in the present and “disrupts” it in a meaningful way. Bell visualizes my question: Where are we now, what have we experienced, what are we grateful for, and what do we hope for so that the world around us, despite the trauma of the past, can be a kinder place in the future?
As an artist, I translate these stories into small visual objects, inspired by traditional votive offerings. Such votive offerings occur in all religions and cultures, as a soothing form of offering: a plea for healing or a thank you for a miracle. In addition to their traditional meaning, I see the votive offering as a way to communicate within yourself and with the world. My project revolves around that communication, and around building a community in which the small act of offering an offering can build bridges between what lives within us and the world around us.
Over time, the alcove around Bell will fill with these offerings, like the sky revealing stars when darkness falls. Because the participants involved entrust me with their time and thoughts, I want to respond with generosity. At the end, each participant can ask for their votive offering back. The installation is thus time-bound and one-off, but the memory of a shared experience remains.”
–Natalia Grezina, March 2025
Upcoming meeting(s) are scheduled for:
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Thursday, April 2 at 16:30 PM
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Saturday, April 18 at 14:00 PM
