Prayer Rugs

The original parochet from the 17th century (perhaps a later copy), collection of the Jewish Museum, New York

The paintings in this series (from 2003-2005) are visual variations on a Torah ark curtain (parochet) from the Jewish Museum in New York, in which both design and imagery are similar to Moslem prayer rugs. The encounter with a ritual object in which Judaism and Islam are so interconnected provided me with a painterly way to explore the national and religious conflict that surrounds me, as well as questions of faith and prayer.

As the series progressed, the dedication on the original carpet in which a father commemorates his deceased daughter entered the works in various forms, while the text that ornamented the original was replaced by other prayers, appearing in some works in both Hebrew and Arabic. The imagery and ornamentation of the original curtain also underwent transformations: it turned into a rug on which one prostrates, a mirror, a window looking out on to the landscape, a patch of earth being kissed, and finally a small grave.

Painting based on a Jewish synagogue ark curtain with intricate design and Hebrew text

Prayer Rug 1, 2003, oil on canvas, 125 X 80 cm (49″ X 31.5″). Private collection, USA

Golden background with ornamental design, and image of prostrated body imprinted on it

Prayer Rug 2, 2003, oil on canvas, 125 X 80 cm (49″ X 31.5″). Private collection, Jerusalem

Image of standing painter inside ornamental arch and frame taken from original ark curtain

Prayer Rug 3, 2003, oil on canvas, 125 X 80 cm (49″ X 31.5″). Collection of Mishkan Museum of Art, Ein Harod

Landscape surrounded by ornamental frame taken from the synagogue curtain, with two hands at forefront/bottom

Prayer Rug 4, 2003, oil on canvas, 125 X 80 cm (49″ X 31.5″). Private collection, USA

Copper-colored band with Hebrew and Arabic surrounds brown painted soil with imprint of prostrating body and mouth shaped like a kiss.

Prayer Rug 5, 2004, oil on canvas, 125 X 80 cm (49″ X 31.5″)

Band of ornament and Hebrew text surrounds dark brown image of soil, with small darker vertical rectangle at its center.

Prayer Rug 6, 2004, oil on canvas, 125 X 80 cm (49″ X 31.5″)

Afterwords (and images)

The image of the person kissing the earth that appears in Prayer Rug 5 led to the following studies:

Light brown wash of color with image of hands, knees and face imprinted on it

Study 1, 2004, oil on canvas, 125 X 80 cm (49″ X 31.5″)

Burnt sienna brown wash of color with image of hands, knees and face imprinted on it

Study 2, 2004, oil on canvas, 99 X 54.5 cm (39″ X 21.5″)

Brown painting of soil with images of hands, knees and face imprinted on it

Study 3, 2004, oil on canvas, 99 X 54.5 cm (39″ X 21.5″)

Dark brown wash of color with image of hands, knees and face imprinted on it, and rectangular dark area at center

Study 4, 2004, oil on canvas, 99 X 54.5 cm (39″ X 21.5″)

Finally, Hasna, who appears in the Welcoming Guests series, helped me imagine two praying women, one Jewish and one Moslem, each one facing a different place.

Image of two women in black, kneeling in opposite directions in a horizontal composition

Two Directions of Prayer, 2005, oil on canvas, 50 X 100 cm (19.5″ X 39″)

Photographs: Yona Schley