The Golem

In Jewish folklore, golems are protective beings shaped from earth. They are wordless watchers, caretakers, defenders. As a trans Jew it only felt natural to make my golems trans too, with visible top surgery scars. They are small, embodied vessels of care for your body, your belongings, or your space. Each one carries a distinct presence, protective, queer, and quietly strange.

In the myth the name of G-d is inscribed on the forehead of the golem, so making them come to life. As this is a strictly Jewish magic from a closed practice, I do not feel comfortable sharing and selling golems that have been inscribed. These golems are not inscribed and therefore, whilst still Jewish, they are for everyone. Being Jewish does not mean supporting Zionism, to me golems represent the protection of difference.

About the project: The multimedia project Vessels of Home seeks moments of belonging through the creation of rituals, artifacts, and myths. Weaving together past, present and future; making circles in time and space. The quilt represents the slow building of stories culminating in a web of ancestral history. Images framed in ceramics become portals to mundane and magical worlds, placing emphasis on the sacredness of nature. Slowly moving visuals provide an opportunity to connect to one’s bodily presence. Moonlion searches for an understanding of horizontal transcendence. How can we sustain a world where humans stand equal to blades of grass, and where identity and institution no longer hold all power? 

Year: 2023
Title of the series: Vessels of Home
Technique/materials: Ceramic (unfired)
Size: approx. 60x40x40
Edition: Unique piece. 1/1.