Galgal. Elements of Creation in Motion
Computer-Animated Presentation of Ornamental-Figurative Micrography
Taken from Medieval Bible Manuscripts and Displayed in a Cultic Space
– Eckhard Westermeier, Hanna Liss and Team –
July 11th – October 31st, 2017
Opening Ceremony on July 10th, 2017
Multimedia Exhibition in the Synagogue of Worms
about an almost forgotten Jewish Scribal Tradition:
But the Masoretes weren’t only concerned with settling pronunciation and meaning; their Masoretic text was also supposed to help prevent copying mistakes by providing additional information in the margins. In particular, their commentaries contain statistical data on how often words appear in a particular way. Over time, these arrangements developed into true art. Such ornamental-figurative micrographs are not merely shown in this exhibition, but generated using multimedia technology.
The micrographic text of the masora figurata is mostly shaped into zoomorphic (later also anthropomorphic) figures (dogs, horses, rabbits, gazelles, birds, dragons or other fantastic animals), or arranged into floral shapes. At first glance, they call to mind the drolleries that appear as ornamentation in Gothic manuscripts, in architecture and sculpture. These drolleries are simultaneously concrete and abstract; they strike the viewer as hideous and demoniacal. The drawings are constrained by their being constructed out of letters, but are nonetheless often able to convey an impressive sense of motion: animals jump or writhe, interlaced patterns lead up- or downwards or appear to twine around themselves.
Examples from various medieval manuscripts of the Jewish Bible will be on display until the end of October.
On July 10th, 2017, the multimedia exhibition »GALGAL. Elements of Creation in Motion« will launch in the synagogue of Worms. Until October 31st, 2017, this exhibition will let the public enjoy select micrographic images taken from Western European Bible manuscripts from the 12th-14th centuries. With the help of computer animation and projectors to "throw" the resulting images against the walls of the synagogue, the Jewish Bible is placed in its Jewish-cultic context in an unexpected way. Jewish (manuscript) culture will be given a new voice to express itself and approach and move the visitor. 21st century technology lets visitors experience a forgotten world of the Jewish Middle Ages.
The exhibition was developed by the Chair for Bible and Jewish Bible Exegesis, currently held by Prof. Dr. Hanna Liss (Center for Jewish Studies Heidelberg / University of Heidelberg), as a sub-project of the University of Heidelberg’s Collaborative Research Centre 933, in cooperation with Berlin artist Prof. Eckhard Westermeier.
The micrographic images (masora figurata) that are showcased in this program originate with Jewish Hebrew manuscripts from the Middle Ages. Masora is first and foremost a commentary on the biblical text, written in the margins. In antiquity, the biblical text was transmitted in purely consonantal form, and it was only in the Middle Ages that the Masoretes, as they were known, established a system of signs to indicate vowels, emphasis and cantillation.
Multimedia Exhibition in the Synagogue of Worms:
Jewish Bible Manuscripts presented via Computer Animation
BIMA. Biblical Masora Database
A Project of the Chair for Bible and Jewish Bible Exegesis, Center for Jewish Studies Heidelberg
Prof. Dr. Hanna Liss / Clemens Liedtke M.A. / Dr. Kay Joe Petzold
Additional information, pictures and select animations are available at
http://bima.corpusmasoreticum.de (Registration Required).
Information about the Exhibition
Guided Tours
Worms Synagogue
Synagogenplatz
(in der Judengasse)
67547 Worms
Admission
free
Visiting Hours
July 11th – October 31st, 2017
daily 10 am – 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm – 4 pm
(except on Saturdays and Jewish Holidays)
Jewish Holidays
Roch Hashanah, September, 21th -22nd, 2017
Yom Kippur, September, 30th, 2017
Sukkot, October, 5th - 11th, 2017
Simchat Torah, October, 12th - 13th, 2017
Scheduled Guided Tours
(at 11 am and 3 pm; in English or German)
August, 1st
August, 8th
August, 15th
August, 22nd
August, 29th
August, 31st
September, 5th
September, 7th
September, 12th
September, 14th
September, 19th
September, 26th
October, 10th
October, 17th
October, 19th
October, 26th
Guided Tours for Groups
Additional Guided Tours for Groups
can be arranged
(please contact berlinercenter@hfjs.eu)
Sponsors
Partners
Worms Synagogue
Jewish Community Mainz-Worms
Jewish Museum Worms Rashi House
City of Worms
University of Heidelberg
Jewish Culture Days in Worms
ShUM-Cities on the Rhine
Warmaisa e.V.
Matthias Kraus, Artist
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Press Information
For Press Information please contact
Jonas Leipziger M.A.
Center for Jewish Studies Heidelberg
Abraham Berliner Center
Center for Jewish Studies Heidelberg
Landfriedstraße 12
69117 Heidelberg, Germany
T +49 6221 54 192 -46
F +49 6221 54 192 -09
Prof. Dr. Hanna Liss
Scientific Director
Center for Jewish Studies Heidelberg/
University of Heidelberg
Chair for Bible and Jewish Bible Exegesis
www.hfjs.eu / www.hfjs.eu/abc
Prof. Eckhard Westermeier
Artistic Director
Artist, Berlin
www.eckhard-westermeier.de
Clemens Liedtke M.A.
Technical Implementation
Center for Jewish Studies Heidelberg
Research Associate
Bible and Jewish Bible Exegesis
Jonas Leipziger M.A.
Assistance
Center for Jewish Studies Heidelberg / SFB 933
Research Associate
Bible and Jewish Bible Exegesis
Dr. Kay Joe Petzold
Scientific Editions
Research Associate
University of Heidelberg, SFB 933
Bettina Burghardt
Assistance
Center for Jewish Studies Heidelberg
Student Assistant
Bible and Jewish Bible Exegesis
Hanna Rost B.A.
Assistance / Guided Tours
Center for Jewish Studies Heidelberg
Student Assistant
Bible and Jewish Bible Exegesis
Elias S. Jungheim B.A.
Assistance / Guided Tours
Center for Jewish Studies Heidelberg
Student Assistant
Bible and Jewish Bible Exegesis
Imprint
Abraham Berliner Center
Hochschule für Jüdische Studien Heidelberg
Landfriedstraße 12
69117 Heidelberg
© Fotos, Graphics and Videos: Prof. Eckhard Westermeier / Jonas Leipziger M.A. / Clemens Liedtke M.A.
Website: Jonas Leipziger M.A.
© Copyright Manuscripts:
MS Erfurt 1, © Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - PK
Online , CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 DE: http://digital.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/werkansicht?PPN=PPN666165718&PHYSID=PHYS_0411&DMDID=DMDLOG_0015
MS Vat.ebr.14, © Vatican Library
Online : http://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.ebr.14
MS London, British Library, Or. 2091, © British Library
Online : http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=or_2091
Galgal. Elements of Creation in Motion
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