Brazen Sight
This artwork is exhibited at the Jerusalem Biennale 2024, old Sha'arei Tzedek compound, as part of the exhibition “Dignified Belongings” by artists of Talpiot College. Curator Dr. Orna Segal. It opens March 17, 2024
The artwork is made from copper as a long chain twisted to the form of a double helix, hung from the ceiling and rotating. height 180 cm, circumference 120 cm.
The artwork refers in its double helix form to human genetic inheritance and in its iconography and materiality to the Brazen Serpent that was created by Moses in the desert and continued to be worshiped till the days of king Hezekia. The artwork deals with material and visual components of the longing for religious redemption, salvation and ecstasy, as part of the genetic-cultural heritage of the Jewish people. The artwork comprises texts and images referring to the communal cohesion that stems from this joint heritage as containing both curses and blessings.
The texts printed in small letter size on the artwork are quoted from Deuteronomy chapter 28 verses 15-68.
Texts written on the work utilize fonts used in the dead sea scrolls, as digitized by researchers from Haifa University.
Following are a few of the texts printed on the artwork:
Texts written on the work utilize fonts used in the dead sea scrolls, as digitized by researchers from Haifa University.
Following are a few of the texts printed on the artwork:
verse 32. Your sons and daughters will be given over to another people, and your eyes will see and long for them all day long, but you will be powerless.
33-34. A people unknown to you will eat up the fruit of your soil and all your toil. You will be only wronged and crushed all the days. You will go insane from the vision before your eyes that you will behold.
33-34. A people unknown to you will eat up the fruit of your soil and all your toil. You will be only wronged and crushed all the days. You will go insane from the vision before your eyes that you will behold.
texts on the artwork in large letter size contain handwritten words that were etched into the copper in dead sea scrolls font. some of the words are :
Olam Haba (“World to Come"), "Hosanna", "Messiah", "Curse", "Malediction", "Boils", "By his will".
Olam Haba (“World to Come"), "Hosanna", "Messiah", "Curse", "Malediction", "Boils", "By his will".