REINCARNATION
גלגול נשמות
Work in progress | Concept and creation: Soof Nikritin & Natalie Afriat
Like many Israelis, October 7th, 2023 marked a point of no return that has profoundly changed our lives—and became the starting point of our current work, Reincarnation. The attack and the following war effect us deeply not only as artists, but also as Israelis, as Jews, but especially through the lens of womanhood and partnership.
Following a fruitful residency and successful exhibition in Düsseldorf during March–April 2023, we were invited to return for another residency period in November–December of that year. This invitation coincided with a time of extreme fear and uncertainty back home. We had hoped to dive into a new creative process during the residency, but soon realized that we were emotional and physical ‘paralyzed’ creation wise.
Out of that stillness emerged the first stage of our project: a series of still images. Throughout the process of shooting, the faces and stories of women who had lost their freedom, dignity, and lives on that Saturday in October were present in our minds and bodies. We were overwhelmed by a sense of guilt—our own families were unharmed—and a strong awareness of the privilege of being able to move freely in the world, to inhabit our bodies without fear, while so many others were denied that basic right.
The initial series, which we titled Reincarnation, became a visceral documentation of the chaotic, disproportionate experience of the female body—an object that is so often expected to be aesthetic, collected, and contained, yet is constantly under threat. Since October 7th, we have witnessed countless instances where women's bodies have been violated and weaponized—something that has happened throughout history, and continues to this day. The images and accompanying video work reflect a metaphysical journey of souls: between those who were lost, those still held captive, those who survived, and those struggling with the burden of surviving and possessing a body that remains free.
As part of the project, we engaged with texts on trauma—its initial meaning, its physiological manifestations, and the body’s defense mechanisms. One particularly influential source was the writing of Yochai Ataria (2014), whose research on trauma suggests that personal trauma often transcends the individual and becomes collective. So the silenced voices of women can sometimes be heard through the bodies of others—and through our own bodies.
The long-exposure images we created produced a blurring effect that emphasized subtle bodily motion, revealing a raw, exposed dimension. These photographs captured a delicate, elusive emotional process—what we felt in real time—and serve both as the foundation and an integral part of the final work.
Over the past year and a half, we have continued to develop Reincarnation. First, through video editing that enhanced the sense of movement between still images, and later through unique print processes and ceremonial, physical performance. Each attempt to translate the piece into a full stage performance felt slightly off—until we realized the work was, in essence, a video dance: a hybrid medium where choreography, sound, emotion, and visual art merge to form a complete and unique experience.
