Judaica artist Moshe Zabari expresses the essence of visual art in modern Judaism in novel ways. His work is influenced by his family's cultural heritage, his father's stone carving works, his grandfather's calligraphy work as a Jewish scribe (a Sofer), and by filigree and granulation techniques. By combining diverse styles and cultures, Zabari's works are innovational and unique.
"Scripture as Sculpture" is a series of five marble sculptures illustrating the books of the Torah. The biblical world, the archeology of the land of Israel, the Jewish texts and the Hebrew language are all expressed neatly – on the verge of abstraction, lacking symmetry, as in the international style. Yet Zabari states, "We must recognize the importance of the historical and cultural past as the foundation for contemporary artistic vision and as a source of inspiration for the continuation of Jewish creativity. Looking back is an integral part of the creative process. I try to link my contemporary art with that of the past, in order to develop continuity of past generations."
We cherish the artist for donating his sculptures to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
For additional information about the works see: Genesis, Exodus, Levitictus, Numbers & Deuteronomy
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1935 Born in Jerusalem
1955-1958 Studied at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem
1961-1988 Worked as an artist-in-residence and later on as director of the Tobe Pascher Workshop in The Jewish Museum, New York
1988 Returned to Israel and settled in his childhood house in Jerusalem
2003-2004 Crafted the marble series "Scripture as Sculpture" in Carrara, Italy
