פקודי |P’kudei

Davi Cheng, Hong Kong/USA

The deities or divine beings in Chinese folktales often travel by clouds — curly patterned clouds like the ones depicted in my drawing. Clouds themselves have no colors but they do reflect whatever light and surrounding colors are nearby. Thus, the reflection of the colors described in the Torah — blue, purple, crimson, and gold — can be seen on these clouds, painted with blue and crimson watercolors and a hint of shimmering gold acrylic ink. For me, the clouds filling the mishkan in parashat P’kudei represent the ruach, the spirit of God, as well as the spirit of the artists and the people of Israel whose hearts moved them to give all they had to create a dwelling place for God.

Professional Background  Hong Kong born, Los Angeles based, Davi Cheng is an artist, musician/singer, and past president of the world's original LGBT synagogue, Beth Chayim Chadashim (BCC). She designed and co-created the stained-glass windows, ner tamid, and ark doors for BCC. Cheng’s art integrates Jewish themes in traditional Chinese aesthetic.