I PRACTICE WHAT I PREACH

In her work, the artist Iv Toshain enters the fermentation hall as if entering a cathedral. In it, she builds a peculiar altar crowning the "central nave of the temple." Her creation "Dome" recalls the deep connections between wine and God, between the earthly and the heavenly. It reminds one of the ritual that turns water into wine and wine into Christ's blood. The entire work is built around symbols. The column around which the metal grille is mounted symbolizes the verticality of the cross, and the grille itself, ending with an arch, resembles an altar. The fermentation hall is the place where wine is created. This is where the true winemaking activity takes place, which needs its creed, its statement. With a solemn gesture, the artist places a short text on the grille. "I Practice what I Preach," a white neon inscription written in cursive, shines brightly. In her artistic practice, Iv Toshain often turns to text. Through short phrases and haiku poems, she expresses her emotional attitude towards the world. The inscription stretches the entire height, from floor to ceiling, practically imbuing all the activities carried out in the hall with special meaning. It unites the idea of practice as a method of creating wine and the dedication and faith in the higher natural forces that drive all processes on earth. In the context of this work, the people working in the hall are priests in the temple of wine. They do not simply make wine but conduct a ritual without which its creation would not be possible.