PROJECT DOCUMENTARY
"I decided that there are stories so unique, belonging to truly special people, that they deserve to be commemorated, not in a book or a movie, but straight to the heart”
“החלטתי שיש סיפורים מיוחדים לאנשים מאוד מיוחדים שיהיה ראוי להנציח אותם, לא בספר ולא בסרט אלא ״ישר לפנים״ ביצירת אומנות מיוחדת אחת ויחידה המנכיחה סיפור חיים שלם בתמונה.”
WATCH ME
Executive Summary
If you had the chance to bring back to life a story long buried underground,
Would you choose to bring it into the light?
“From Exil back to Life” is a return to light and
color, a revival of a black and white story that had remained silent for far too long.
Gila Yair reached out to artist Ulysse Berdat to anchor
her family’s forgotten history in the present and carry
it into the future.
The project takes shape through the creation of a painting that combines collage with authentic objects from the family’s past, acrylic paint, and symbolic forms.
A final layer of resin unifies the piece, preserving this memory through time.
A short documentary accompanies the artwork, sharing the story, the creative process, and the emotional unveiling of the final piece with the main character.
This project also aims to collaborate with cultural institutions in order to bring this memory to life in new spaces and reach a wider audience.
Context & Challenges
ביקשתי מיוליוס לתעד את סיפור חייה המיוחד והראוי לזיכרון עולם של חמותי הגיבורה והאהובה גבריאלה. ניצולת שואה היחידה ששרדה ממשפחתה.
This project was initiated by Gila Yair, who wished to bring to light the forgotten story of her family, buried for decades.
In the face of a silence passed down through generations, it became urgent to give this memory images, words, and form before it disappeared entirely.
The Artist Ulysse Berdat was invited to create a visual and narrative work through a painting, a documentary film, and a process of transmission.
The project carries multiple dimensions: to revive a personal memory with universal resonance, to shed light on the hidden traces of History, and to pass on a lesser-known Jewish heritage through contemporary artistic means.
It also aims to open this project to exhibition spaces, cultural and educational institutions, and a multigenerational audience.
Mission
As a visual artist, my mission was to conceive and create an artwork capable of transforming a buried family memory into a tangible and living creation.
I oversaw the entire creative process: designing the painting, selecting and integrating original objects, composing the visual narrative, and applying mixed media techniques (acrylic, collage, resin).
I also co-developed the documentary storyline in collaboration with the main character and the director, in order to guide the narrative and deepen its emotional impact.
This project was carried out in close collaboration with Gila Yair (who entrusted me with the story), a video production team, and future cultural partners.
Skills mobilized: artistic direction, iconographic and symbolic research, mixed media techniques, visual storytelling, and cultural project coordination.
Design / Strategy
Development of the visual and narrative structure. Selection of symbolic objects to be included in the artwork.
Challenges encountered:
Finding a balance between intimate memory and universal form
Assembling diverse elements in a coherent way
Filming / Iterations
Filming the documentary alongside the creation process, capturingkey moments, and adjusting the narrative according to emerging emotions.
Key actions:
Interviews
Documentation of the creative process
Challenges encountered:
Capturing emotion without excessive staging
Coordinating between creation and filming
Execution / Production
Creation of the final artwork: collage of objects, acrylic painting, symbolic patterns, protective resin.
Challenges encountered:
Maintaining symbolic clarity despite multiple layers
Finding harmony between the artwork and its story
Delivery / Presentation / Follow-up
Finalization of the painting and the film, consideration of public presentation formats, and initial discussions with cultural institutions.
Key actions:
Post-production completion
Writing of accompanying texts
Initial outreach for dissemination
Challenges encountered:
Choosing the right context for presentation
Balancing between art and memory
Idéation, brief, analyse
Initial contact with Gila Yair and discovery of the family story. Preliminary research into the historical, emotional, and personal context.
Challenges encountered:
Emotional weight of the personal story
Difficulty in tracing certain parts of the history
Appendices
Want to tell your story through Art? Reach out.