The centrepiece of his major photographic and video exhibition, ‘The Clearing’, Ori Gersht’s powerful and haunting film was shot deep in the forests around Kosov in Ukraine, which were witness to atrocities against the local Jewish population — the artist’s family amongst them — during the Second World War. 

As the camera glides through the dense, sun-dappled forest, a tree falls heavily, and inexplicably, to the ground; and others soon follow, continuing out of shot, or heard but not seen. Afterwards, the silence of the place returns and, amongst so much that is still standing, we cannot be sure what we have just been witness to. Entranced by the hypnotic beauty of the projected image, then shocked by the ear-splitting sound of trees crashing to the ground, our immediate perception of the place is challenged, forcing us to imagine what might have happened here before.

‘The Forest’ was commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella in association with The Photographers’ Gallery, with support from Arts Council England.

With additional thanks to CRG Gallery, New York, Angles Gallery, Los Angeles and Noga Gallery, Tel Aviv.

Installation Photography: The Photographers’ Gallery.