Mirta Kupferminc, Argentina

Parshat Beshalach

Parshat Beshalach

Artist Statement

This portion of the book of Shemot deals with the Exodus from Egypt towards Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel). I have attempted to represent the range of emotion of the Israelites' feelings facing such a decision. Many felt confident and others wanted to return. You will see that not all of them are looking to the same direction, and you will easily find some that are looking back and others still full of faith in their decision to leave.

I have also tried to represent both individuality and belonging.

The shape of the Israelites leaving is similar to a mountain. By this I am alluding to Mount Sinai, where all of them will be presented with the Law in the future. The way has already begun.

Bio

Mirta Kupferminc is the daughter of a Hungarian mother and Polish father, both Auschwitz survivors. Mirta works and lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her parent's history of exile and immigration influences all her work. The fact that she was raised without photos or objects preceding her parents arrival in Argentina made Mirta think about the importance of durability of matter: this is reflected in her artistic work.

Mirta has exhibited her work in over 50 solo shows. Her art has been shown in Argentina, Cuba, China, England, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Spain, Taiwan, Uruguay, and U.S.A. Her works can be seen at the Museum of Fine Arts in Taipei; at the Sokey Academy of Fine Arts in Tokyo; at the Tama University Museum, Japan; in the Kleinsassen Museum in Fulda, Germany; at the Contemporary Collection of the Israel Museum in, Jerusalem, among others.

www.mirtakupferminc.net

Reflections on Being a Jewish Woman Artist

I am a visual artist born and living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I was first trained as a print maker in the tradition of etching and engraving, but very quickly, I turned to other mediums.

I am daughter of Auschwitz survivors. Jewish culture and tradition are always present in my work. I often work with stories taken from the Bible, interpreting them to modern life.

I try to speak of Biblical themes but with a contemporary language, and if it is possible, with a Latin American sensibility. In many of my works you see characters passing by endlessly, carrying their own roots, their cities, their cultures and their dreams and fears.

I live in Argentina, a country comprised of multiple ethnic and immigrant groups. There are very few vestiges of the original population that was in this land before the arrival of the Europeans. I feel that Jewish culture enriches universal culture, and that for me, as a Jewish artist, it is a gift to be able to share these values.

It is compelling to me to be working as a Jewish woman and engaging with images, because I consider this a way to wrestle with the Second Commandment. We artists survived the wariness of not representing images. For me it is a challenge to create my artwork keeping this in mind.

I studied to become Hebrew scribe, but not with the aim of writing a Sefer Torah, rather to understand more when I work with Jewish letters. My recent work about Borges (the Argentinean writer) and Kabbalah is a sample of my aim to unite the ideologies that make up who I am.