Artist Statement

Millions of years ago, mankind sought different methods of survival, first by securing nourishment and shelter, then by maintaining companionship. Yet something remained missing.

We felt the urge to prove that we were here, to share what we have experienced, to leave a trace, an evidence of our existence. Something that is capable of outlasting flesh and bones.

So we learned to write stories.

These stories shaped who we are and defined us. Some of them were true and some of them; lies. Some intended to lead us towards a certain light, and some were devoted to glorify the darkness of the night. Here, is exactly where my story begun.

The most amiable moments of my childhood happened at night, when my older brother would tuck me into bed, telling me a bedtime story meaning to distract me from the howling dreadfulness stretched beyond our bedroom walls. Back then, the country was at war, we experienced frequent power outages. Our heads, they rung with shrieks and roars from the air strikes raining down on us. It was not quite an easy task to put a child to sleep; yet my brother's bedtime stories did the trick.

I've always been dazzled by the power of stories and what they can do to us, how they can help us conquer a fear, make us laugh, and a moment later break our hearts. Good stories are capable of carrying us away, creating an escape for those of us in need of one. Intrigued, I decided to experiment with this power - aiming to deviate people from the blizzards and the horrors of everyday life, or maybe leading people straight into them - by creating my own array of stories.

'In The Dead Of Night' is my first book of illustrated short stories, a challenging project, which made way for my inner writer, illustrator, and musician to collaborate under one solid theme, for the first time. Yes, exactly like in Tom Cruise movies where Tom Cruise is the scriptwriter, the producer, the hero, and the bad guy.

Now the following information may not be of any significance to you, but it is my duty to inform you that the whole process of writing, drawing, and composing of this project took place during nighttime. The reason why, I made certain, to make this website available for viewing only during night hours, the right context, when the reader would be in a peaceful calm state of mind.

You see, when you are relaxed with no distractions, nothing can drive your attention away from your inner thoughts. You have time to think about things that you generally put to the back of your mind in the heat of the day. Many things shorten your attention during daylight hours - mobile phones, emails, traffic, people, and other types of noise - forbidding you of pondering upon a thought too deeply. At night, the quiet environment enhances your concentration and invites you to express your feelings, making your mind more suitable to absorb this kind of work.

I hope this project is able to create an enjoyable transition between the last hours of your day and the early moments of your sleep. In case it doesn't, you can send your hate mail to contact@theartofboo.com, I promise to read all of them.

Good night, sleep tight, and don't let the bedbugs bite.

Boo