Seated in Seclusion: Bratslav Hasidim and Contemporary Design
Self-secluded prayer in nature is regarded by some Jewish communities as the most sacred spiritual practice, connecting a person to God directly and intuitively. Practitioners construct seats for prayer from salvaged chair parts and natural elements, treating the act of repair and reconstruction as sacred, mirroring spiritual repair.
Photographs of these seats, documented in forests across Israel, were the central focus of the exhibition and displayed alongside chairs designed by contemporary artists such as Jurgen Bey and Nacco Carbonell. Initially without predefined size or format, the images were positioned as objects within the space, defining circulation and shaping spatial experience, turning a large open area into a landscape inspired environment and creating a space of wandering.
The space evoked a forest-like atmosphere, with objects gradually coming into view and receding. A large-scale video of a forest sunrise, projected onto a gallery wall, was glimpsed between objects, revealing itself gradually within the space.
Role: Lead Designer
Client: The Israel Museum
Curators: Sharon Weiser-Ferguson and Eran Lederman
Year: 2021
Scope: Curatorial collaboration · Spatial concept development · Layout & sequencing · Element design, detailing & material specification · Production and fabrication coordination · Timeline & budget management · Site supervision
Photo: Elie Posner
Photo: Elie Posner
Photo: Elie Posner
floor plan studies
floor plan studies
3D render of entrance
floor plan studies
Photo: Elie Posner
Photo: Elie Posner
figure and ground - studies
3D model
3D model
Photo:Elie Posner
Photo:Elie Posner