Of all the ties that bind us to our countries of origin, language is often the first to fray. What are the changes people undergo as they migrate through places and time? Using photographs from families’ origin countries and in their new settings, this artwork encourages a comparison of what elements of culture have been retained and which are lost after forced migrations.Two portraits, a man and his great grandfather, are layered on one another in this image.

The older photograph is from Syria and the second from New York. When illuminated, the artwork becomes transparent and both men are visible at once. A comparison of their cultural norms (how to dress, whether to smile for a photo) begs the question, what is gained and lost when our culture changes so irreversibly?

Lenore is a mixed media conceptual artist and mother currently based in Brooklyn. Her work focuses on cultural heritage and it's relevance to the modern day; several of her recent series explore this theme through use of Arabic or Hebrew calligraphy, vintage photography, embroidery and collage. Lenore is also a street artist and has covered walls in Brooklyn and Jerusalem with her middle-eastern motifs and phrases culled from both Hebrew and Arabic traditions. She's looking forward to moving to Jerusalem this year with her husband and two children and plans to continue her explorations of culture, history and contemporary issues through her artwork. For more info follow her @LenoreCohen.