Artist's Statement

In "Shamayim (there are waters)", the Pacific Ocean rotates along the horizon, exchanging sky for sea and blue for blue, in reference to Genesis 1:6, where “G-d said, ‘Let there be an expanse in the midst of the water, and let it be a separation between water and water.’” In Hebrew the word for sky/heaven is "shamayim" which breaks apart to form the two words sham (there) and mayim (waters). In this installation, the roar of the ocean transforms and becomes the explosion of rockets and the rending of earth.

Single channel video installation, drywall, wood, & 2 tons of sand. 1 hour loop. Stereo sound. 2015. 

About the artist...

Liam Ze’ev O’Connor is a Chicago-based artist and educator. Liam grew up on a small suburban island near San Francisco, and received a BA from Lewis & Clark College and a MFA in Sculpture + Expanded Practice from The Ohio State University. Through sculpture, video, and photo­-based installation, Liam’s work explores the complexity of American-­Jewish identity, the Israel­/alestine conflict, and how we can access the divine through digital media.

Want to see more of Liam's work?

Check out their piece, Broken Blue, from Issue V: Fireworks!