Ishmael, Isaac and She-Camel, 2023
Metal armature, papier-mâché, barbed wire and embroidered fabric 250 x 190 x 96 cm
This life-size she-camel, built using iron, paper pulp, fabric, thread, and tiles, focuses on themes of brotherhood, conflict, and cultural identity.
The camel is shown breastfeeding the Biblical half-brothers, Ishmael and Isaac, the way the Capitoline Wolf nurtured Romulus and Remus. This scene represents an innocent , pre-conflict moment, symbolically referencing Abraham as the common father to both Muslims and Jews. The camel, a symbol in Israeli art for ancient times and pre-Zionist local life, acts as the protector before Hagar’s and Ishmael's banishment.
The back side is less utopian, revealing a deconstructed view that refers to the conflict and the current political situation.
I thus reveal the construction technique through visible seams, tears, and rivets.
