Solo Exhibition by Susan C.Dessel (NYC, USA)

nothers։ variation of another/other ...

In the period of June 21 – 28 NAI hosted the Solo Exhibition - Installation by Susan C.Dessel (NYC, USA) It was implemented in the framework of the Art & Cultural Studies Laboratory (ACSL) Artists-in-Residence Program “Art Commune” and “Cultural Exchange” program of NAI.
Susan C.Dessel from the USA has come to Armenia due to a Medieval Jewish cemetery found in Eghegis (Vayots Dzor region), which has become the focus of her new work. Having come to Armenia on the invitation of the Art & Cultural Studies Laboratory, she has discovered the similarity of motherhood in both nations and has presented it through art.
As Dessel said, the exhibition was designed to honor the women among those buried in the Eghegis Jewish cemetery and their acceptance by and of others. In the 13th and 14th centuries Jewish women were obligated (according to some sources, it was written into their Ketubot or marriage contracts) to breast feed their babies for a period of at least 24 months to help ensure the survival of each child. When it was not possible for a woman to breast feed her child for 24 months a wet nurse was hired. Wet nurses were both Jewish and Christian and the sanctity of the life of every individual was inherent in this practice.

Dessel’s installation “nothers։ variation of another/other” included 365 forms of back-to-back torsos of nursing women, representing the 24 month period of obliged breast feeding for every child. Gold-leafed on one side is an Armenian Khachkar and on the reverse a 6-pointed Jewish Star of David, quietly referencing the positive elements of cooperation between Others.
Susanna Gyulamiryan, representative of Art & Cultural Studies Laboratory and the coordinator of the exhibition, made an opening speech. Speeches were made by Nareg Hartounian, the founding president of NAI, as well as Thomas Mittnacht, Public Affairs officer, US Embassy.

“As the medieval Jews were Others among the Armenian Christians so the Armenians have historically had the experience of being the Other in the Diaspora, says Susan Dessel,- An intent of this work is to invite viewers to consider the place of otherness within Armenia’s largely homogeneous society today”.