HIDDEN AND THE REVEALED: The Queen Esther Mosaics of Lilian Broca - Hardcover

BROCA, LILIAN

9789652295606: HIDDEN AND THE REVEALED: The Queen Esther Mosaics of Lilian Broca

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 9652295604 ISBN 13: 9789652295606

A stunning art book, but far more. In addition to glittering reproductions, details and working drawings of the ten mammoth pieces in this award-winning series about Esther of the Bible, the book features the artist's own story, illuminating her journey from war-torn Romania to Israel to Canada, what drew her to Esther and mosaics as a medium, and how she employed ancient techniques with a contemporary sensibility. An art historian provides a chapter comparing Broca's interpretation of Esther to that of such past artists as Rembrandt and Artemisia Gentileschi. The book finishes with a provocative, lyrical prose-poem written in the imagined voice of Esther by a prominent rabbi and scholar. An appendix provides the full text of Esther in beautiful calligraphed Hebrew with an accompanying English translation.

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Review:

"For centuries, the most serious art in Italy was laboriously crafted in mosaics. It was taken for granted that the Bible s timeless stories deserved the timelessness of polished stones. It s an old idea, but Lilian Broca sees the point. She makes contemporary art with the merits of ancient art." -- John T Spike, author, art historian, art critic, and past director of the Florence Biennale International Exhibitions "Yes, Broca's thoroughly satisfying portion of the book met and exceeded all our expectations for a good mosaic read. What we hadn't expected in The Hidden and the Revealed were the additional contributions made by feminist artist Judy Chicago, art historian Sheila Campbell and Rabbi Yosef Wosk that made this book an even richer, multi-faceted experience. In her foreword, Chicago discusses the traditional struggles of women within the confines of historically patriarchal religions. She also finds the mosaic connection between her homage to" -- Mosaicartnow.blogspot.com "Book reviewers sometimes like to hang on to their verdict, forcing the reader to wade through the reviewer s arcane knowledge and pompous opinions until, in the very last sentence, the opinion on the particular book is delivered. I ll spare my readers this book is a stunner! It encompasses all the elements of a wonderful art book: illuminating but accessible text for an intelligent layman, out-of-the-ordinary artistic content, and quality printing. The preface is by Judy Chicago, the internationally acclaimed artist (famous for her groundbreaking installation, The Dinner Party) and author. Ms Chicago notes that Broca has chosen the ancient technique of mosaics to create a modern-day visual midrash. This book has been seven years in the making and includes the full Scroll of Esther in Hebrew, accompanied by an English translation. The artist devotes a section of the book to explaining the technique of mosaics and presenting the reader with many of her preliminary sketches. The history of mosaics goes back some 4,000 years or more. The expansion of the Roman Empire took mosaics further afield. With the rise of the Byzantine Empire from the 5th century onwards, centred on Byzantium (now Istanbul, Turkey), the art form took on new characteristics. Roman mosaics were mostly used on floors, but the Byzantines specialised in covering walls and ceilings. Light was refracted by the glass and was caught in different ways. The high level of reproducing Broca's mosaics is a compliment to the Israeli publisher. It was Yeats, in his poem Sailing to Byzantium, who spoke of the gold mosaic of a wall, the physical reality of the luminous glass that becomes ethereal. Lilian Broca has infused the heroic story of Esther with artistic beauty and, through the medium of mosaics, with spirituality. Definitely recommended as a gift for oneself, others, or both." -- Pnina Moed Kass, Esra Magazine

About the Author:

Lilian Broca Following graduation from the Pratt Institute in New York, Vancouver artist Lilian Broca produced a prodigious body of work, including an acclaimed series of drawings and paintings on the theme of Lilith, the subject also of a book co-authored with the celebrated Canadian writer Joy Kogawa. Among other awards, Broca s mosaics won a coveted Lorenzo il Magnifico Gold Medal at the 2003 Florence Biennale International Exhibition. Yosef Wosk Former Adjunct Professor of Humanities and Director of Interdisciplinary Programs at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, rabbi and scholar Yosef Wosk created the now international "Philosophers' CafAA(c) " and the Canadian Academy of Independent Scholars. He has been widely honored for his many contributions to education, the arts, libraries, heritage preservation, philanthropy, and religion. Sheila Campbell Archaeologist, art historian, and curator Sheila Campbell has published widely on ancient and contemporary mosaics and Byzantine art. A Professor Emerita at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, Toronto, she has curated many exhibitions, including a showcase of the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli, Italy, at the Royal Ontario Museum.

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