Elka Kazmierczak
I Wish She Was Dead
Limited Edition Artist Book
$70

I Wish She Was Dead is an artist book of illustrated visual poems that portray a woman’s emotional journey from imprisonment to freedom; from self-doubt to self-acceptance. It begins with self-doubt, confusion, pain, and despair. It ends with self-acceptance, rejuvenation, and willingness to take chances, as expressed in the book’s final statement, “I am free to be me.” Ultimately, this book depicts many women’s search of empowerment and the healthy boundaries of the self.

The title is a metaphor for the struggle that the self has to endure to let go of the old baggage to replace it with the renewed sense of self. A mouse signifies the self that undergoes transformation. Once the change is completed the rodent disappears, replaced by a female hand signifying the renewed self. This book honors survivors of abuse. Poems are dedicated to terrific women who shared their stories with me. Poems capture stories that convey experiences marking the steps of an emotional rite of passage. One dedicatee responded: “You really put a finger on where I am, finding my identity and all. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for seeing me.”

Laser printing on text weight paper. Side stab stitching. 10 x 6 inches page size, 20 pages plus cover, end papers, signed and numbered edition of 40.

To purchase this work please contact Laura at 23 Sandy Gallery.

© All images and text copyright the artist. All rights reserved.