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| The entire installation of "Treatise" |
I mentioned in my previous post that I would explain all the symbolism inherent in the piece that I made to commemorate the Holocaust The symbolism in the installation is as follows:
Why Books—
Education is an important tenet in the Jewish tradition.
Books are also everyday objects that many take for granted. The "everyday" was
forever altered for those who were persecuted during the Holocaust. Books also
tell stories of people’s lives, so their use is particularly poignant given the
lives that were destroyed. The book covers are not damaged, but the interiors
of the books are distressed in various ways. The reason behind the decision to
maintain the integrity of the book covers is to indicate that we all have
stories; these stories are often hidden by the masks that we wear, but often,
if one scratches the surface, wounds are apparent. The books are printed in
Polish, Russian, German, Italian, French and Yiddish. That choice was an
important one because the people tyrannized during the Holocaust were not
foreign enemies, but citizens of the very governments that attempted to annihilate them. The Yiddish book illustrates that the Jewish people
were not completely destroyed and that a ray of hope still existed after World
War II ended. Twelve books are used to symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel.
The Jewish forefather, Jacob, fathered twelve sons and they are the ancestors of
the Tribes of Israel.
Why a Tree Image—
Trees are an important symbol in many religious traditions.
In Judaism, the tree is referred to as the Tree of Life and is a symbol that
sustains and nourishes human beings. The Torah, or Jewish Written Law, is also
referred to as the Tree of Life. The tree that I have drawn on the covers of
the books is either dead or dormant. Further, the tree image is fractured rather
than being solid since it is made up of different pieces. This is to
symbolize the lives that were broken. However, there is hope expressed by the
sapling that is depicted on the cover of the Yiddish book, which is in the lower right corner of the installation.
Again, I endeavored to utilize an object that had the
appearance of an item that could be used every day.
Why a Pitcher, Bowl and Towel —
After attending a Jewish funeral and visiting the gravesite,
one would not enter the home of the bereaved without rinsing one’s hands. There
are those who would believe this practice is a way to banish evil spirits, and
there are others who would simply see it as a life-affirming ritual after an
encounter with death. The books have pastel on them. Therefore, when handled, pastel will get on viewer's hands. The water in the pitcher is there for visitor's to rinse off the pastel. This symbolizes the fact that if we hurt one another, we are all affected by the pain that is inflicted.
James and I will be installing the piece at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia on February 11 where it will be on view until April 15.
