Freeze | Dan Allon

Freeze (2024) is a multimedia installation by Dan Allon consisting of a 2 × 17 meter mural, four sound works, and three comic booklets. The project addresses anxiety and depression through a large-scale graphic novel designed to be experienced linearly, as a performative walk.

The story unfolds in three stages: meetings between Allon and his psychologist, who asks him to list five responsibilities each week, alongside the appearance of Oyzis, the Greek god of depression; five mural chapters depicting personal struggles including family anxiety, work conflicts, heartbreak, and career pressure; and three original songs presented as melancholic duets between Allon and Oyzis. A ten-minute sound work, composed from voice messages to his psychologist, adds a documentary layer, while the narrative unfolds against the background of war and political instability.

Press HERE to listen to the overall score - mind that the soundwork has silent moment

The work was created as the MFA Thesis project and was presented in 2024 at the University of Haifa. It was made possible with scholarships from Haifa University, as well as the teacher's union (Irgun Hamorim), the teacher's academy Hotam, and the Ministry of Education. The project was supervised by Sharon Poliakine and Thalia Hoffman, and mentored by Roee Rosen.

Photos: Ariel Warhaftig
Sound - voices, mix, piano, and editing: Shani and Halel Broner
Graphic design: Roei Regev and Avisar Goldman
Special thanks: Abdissalam Sabi, Ruti Singer, Nikolas Veksler, Anna Bershtansky, The tech staff at the University - Yoav, Lior, Haim, and Shai, Shimon and Didi Allon, Eran Inbar, Oz Gore.

This work is dedicated to Shimon and Miriyam Allon