Julie Glicenstajn

The autobiographical work RUÍNAS, is the embodiment of Julie Glicenstajn’s processing of grief. In December 2020, the artist returned to Brazil to take care of her father, who was sick. During the next 8 months, Glicenstajn became his primary caregiver, while she saw him lose his hair and will to live, every single day. Lost in the midst of her grief, the artist found herself contemplating life’s fragility, as well as her reliance on antidepressants to stay alive. Back in her home country of Brazil, due to differences in weather and material availability, clay bricks are used as the foundation to every house constructed. Mixed with cement, buildings are raised — sturdy and indestructible by nature. In this video-performance, brick by brick, pill by pill, the artist is lifted. Yet, in the blink of an eye, that which seemed to be resilient and stable, falls apart. Unpredictable breakdowns collapse the entire foundation, and all that is left are ruins. In a moment of utmost vulnerability, the artist invites the audience to discuss the importance of one’s mental health and the complex processing of grief.