Hagar Cygler

History is told through chronology and bureaucracy; a line running through facts and details builds a larger story. When my Polish family roots come up, it is mostly through testimonials of relatives, genealogy research and property reclamation. In the constant attempt to form a whole family story, I choose to linger on what is not told, what is avoided and what cannot be answered. In the light of current political events, living in Israel raises obscure questions on the thread connecting historical and current events, which stir and change what was clear and firm, adding new layers of unanswered questions.

Using anonymous photos, I look for an imagined connection to the history I was told, cherishing the unknown and absent. I add found letters and written thoughts and together form a malleable non-chronological story, allowing me to contemplate the personal, collective, and cultural memory and reflect current struggles and conflicts affected by the historical and political narratives.

Photos by:  Maciek Jazwiecki