Women, water and Kabbalah converge in Jerusalem's Sea of Wisdom exhibition

The "Sea of Wisdom: Woman and Water" art exhibition, recently held at the Schocken Library in Jerusalem, delved into the profound connections between women, water, and Kabbalistic thought. Curator Rachel Verliebter aimed to create an exhibition reflecting her doctoral research on the phenomenology of water in Jewish mysticism, drawing parallels between spiritual spheres and the essential element of H2O.

“

notes that among the primordial elements, none stirs the human imagination as deeply as the liquid element – water.

The exhibition showcased diverse artistic interpretations of water's significance in spiritual realms. Maya Zack's work, "Sei das Wasser," referenced Holocaust survivor poet Paul Celan and explored the feminine, non-cerebral aspects of remembrance. Altea Steinherz contributed "The Limits of Your Longing," an eye-catching watercolor featuring YInMn blue, a newly discovered inorganic blue pigment.

“

My aim, in my role as curator, was to devise an exhibition that reflects my doctoral research work, which is about the phenomenology of water in Jewish mysticism.

Steinherz was inspired by the pigment's discovery at Oregon State University, stating, "I read about this, and it just blew my mind." She connected the vibrant blue to the Kabbalistic concept of "shamayim hadashim" (new heavens), representing the Divine's continuous renewal of reality rather than the erasure of past suffering. This theme aligns with the understanding of suffering as a temporary deficiency or a correction (tikkun) that transforms desire.

“

This is the YInMn blue that was developed, by accident, by Oregon State University.