CONTEMPORARY REPRESENTATIONAL ART

Nettayah Ben Attar work strives to travel beyond the limitations of language.
Her medium is parchment derived from kosher calf skin, the same parchment used to write Holy Scriptures such as the Torah in the Jewish religion, merged with the effects of advanced technological LED lighting, and further built upon using color, shape and form.

Her work examines the fundamental issues of sanctity versus secularism; religion and actions performed on its behalf; women and morality; violence and fragility. Another mystery explored in her work is when and why the perception of "the woman's role" was assimilated into present culture - what is forbidden, instructed and commanded of women in society. She concentrates on exploring the various interpretations of the symbolic language of the Old Testament.

Parchment is stretched on frames to create sheets to write the Holy Scriptures. A question underlying the surface of Ben Atttar's work is why was parchment chosen for this intent? Possible answers may be the availability and the desire to use of all parts of the animal. Also, parchment is a living medium on which to write the living word of God. Parchment is long-lasting and the Word of God could be passed on. This inimitable medium may attract the viewer for its beauty while also creating distaste because it is the skin of a dead animal.

Ben Attar integrates the medium of parchment into the 21st century by using similar techniques to create both sheets and elemental shapes from nature such as flowers, shells, eyes and flames. These formations create a dialog with the surrounding nature holding within the secrets of life and existence.

The joining of light with the parchment is produced by using LED lighting, which illuminates the mysteries and the inner qualities of the parchment as a raw, wild and unique material. This combination generates an art form of "a light within leather".

Ben Attar's work, with the different levels of finish and transparency, exposes the animalistic characteristics of the skin and reveals the untainted and wild origin of the material. This is in contrast to the finish that exists in the sheets created for the Holy Scriptures.

At a deeper level, the artist's work deals with the questions that arise from the concept of "The Language Membrane". The Language Membrane is the collective of the programmed cultural, religious and secular beliefs instilled in the human being through the use of the spoken and written Word which creates our perception of reality. Some pieces of her art contain prayers written in Hebrew which express the innermost essence of the work.
The significance of the language fascinates and lures Ben Attar into dealing with foundational questions such as: "What is the holy language?"; "Does biblical Hebrew contain the absolute Truth?; and "What is the effect and role of the letters in the global perception of our lives?" Language is an amazing medium of communication and expression but has inherent limitations. This contrasts sharply with the infinite possibilities of the Creation which has no boundaries.