Artist's Response:

I have dreaded writing explanation notes for this show as it was so painful. I have come up with all sorts of fantastic and legitimate sounding reasons, all of which are nothing more than self-constructed avoidances and obstacles.
speak out or consent
I have convinced everyone but myself, so I include a press release for information & background.

I do however, feel compelled to clear a couple of misunderstandings.



FIRSTLY, the projection of a page of testimony from the Yad Vashem, a threadbare document detailing the transportation of my grandmother to Auschwitz where she died. Although only one person (to my knowledge) took offense, he felt strongly enough to seek me out on the opening night. Maybe others felt the same.

So for the record, the document showed that I am named after my grandmother, the original Rebecca Feiner, who lived in the East End just up the road from the Gallery. This was highly relevant for both me and the thrust of the show (Speak Out or Consent) and the way it represents cycle and continuum not of abuse, but of life and survival. Phew... I feel better for clearing that one up.



SECONDLY, the reaction to the sounds emanating from the blackened bedroom which Timeout referred to as 'heavy breathing' was so common that it became an amusing source of fascination. I set up a little test to find out its origin. The result being those who entered this room last after taking in the rest of the show, disproportionately heard heavy breathing. Whilst those who entered the blackened room first were more likely to recognize the sounds as traffic. There was another group of people who thought it was a recording of a mothers womb! This last group was made up exclusively of parents with small children.

In fact it was a sample recording of a passing lorry. Why ? Well, as a child it represented the banal but safer and unobtainable world outside my window.



Reflections:

There were many consequences of this show. Apart from the personal and artistic there was the challenge to my right of self expression (IE, the court case). Painful gains and losses aside, as a pure piece of self expression I don't regret a single inch, for a brief moment I know I spoke out and did not consent.