The Seventh Biennale of Israeli Ceramics 2013

The Seventh Biennale of Israeli Ceramics 2013

IMPRINTING ON CLAY

Cultural memory was the subject matter of the seventh biennale of Israeli ceramics, which aimed to explore its manifestations in contemporary ceramic artworks in Israel.
The biennale dealt with artworks whose creation is motivated by cultural awareness that contemplates the present or the past, and by the ability to be attentive to cultural memory absorbed by intergenerational transfer.

Ofrenda

This project was inspired by the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a national holiday that honors the memory of deceased loved ones through gatherings, prayers, and the building of memorial altars, or ofrendas.
At the heart of the project was the creation of a contemporary ceramic ofrenda installation. Measuring approximately 2.3 meters in height and1 meter in width and depth, the piece was designed to envelop the viewer
in a vivid, immersive ceramic world. Drawing from the layered symbolism of traditional altars typically composed of colorful flowers, food, music, and personal offerings the installation reinterpreted every element in ceramic form.
From handmade vessels, hand painted tiles to typical Mexican objects as a small stool and a piniata were created all from clay to transform the entire altar into a tactile, unified material language.
The visual language of the installation was influenced by Frida Kahlo’s bold portrayal of Mexican culture, Antonio Gaudí’s architectural use of ceramics, and the emotional intensity of Lars von Trier’s film Breaking the Waves. These references converged in a deeply personal, expressive work that wove together elements of Pre-Columbian, Mexican, and Israeli cultural identities, which are Kori birthplace and actual homeland. The altar became both a tribute to the history of ceramics and a personal diary an offering that celebrated life, love, joy, nature, and mortality through a pagan, ritualistic lens.