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Artist Statement for "Saffron and Spices" Ketubah Artist: Nishima Kaplan Original media: Torn paper on birch
"…saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices. You are a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and flowing streams…" (chap. 4:14-15) Most precious of all spices, Saffron was weighed out like gold in the ancient markets of the world. Yet it takes over two hundred thousand crocus flowers to yield a single pound. Like the love that you share, Saffron is rare beyond belief; healing and nourishing. It suffuses everything in a delicious, golden glow. Like Saffron, a little pinch of love goes a long way! Second in Nishima Kaplan’s "Song of Songs" series, "Saffron & Spices" evokes the Garden of Eden, where perfumed trees bloom eternally and Winter was unknown — a magical garden lost now to all but Lovers. This torn paper collage is constructed from hand-made Japanese paper that is torn, applied and layered onto board over the course of several days. The process is intensely meditative for the artist. She begins with only an idea in mind. No sketches of the artwork are done prior to beginning and no instruments other than the artist's hand are used to tear the paper. Sudden inspirations, "accidents" and the natural beauty of the paper are allowed to "create" the artwork, using the artist as the vessel of expression. Spontaneous, creative, mystical: the words used to describe the process of creating this torn paper ketubah also describe the people who love it. |
