This Birkat Habayit frames the Blessing in between two glowing and burning Shabbat Candles. Elevating the candles are two contemporary candlesticks inspired by George Jensen’s Cobra curvaceous designs, which are rendered in shimmering gunmetal and fine silver metallic paints to capture the light and reflections dancing upon their surfaces.
These Shabbat candles symbolise the weekly Jewish custom of lighting the candles to welcome the Shabbat Bride into the home and in doing so, commence the observation of the day of rest. Painted with thick applications of impasto to express their waxy texture, these candles signify the traditions that have nourished and sustained Jewish life and faith.
As Ahad Ha’am famously said “More than the Jewish People have kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath has kept the Jews.”
As this Birkat Habayit was painted for the offices of a Sydney based organisation, the oceanic ripples which overlay the background as a veiled blanket recognizes the importance of water to Sydney’s geographical identity (thus giving recognition to the location where the organisation is headquartered).
The colour palette of the background also draws upon the colours of the organisations’ visual identity.
The iridescent gold glowing flames sparkle with a fire that illuminates the dwelling housing this blessing with warmth and light.
