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09/10/2004: "Sifra Daima - May your table last forever!"
On Sunday August 29 I celebrated the opening of my art exhibition: The Perpetual Table together with the launch of its accompanying CD-ROM, The Perpetual Table Volume 1. It was a first in many ways.
Although I had exhibited a few times previously, this is the first time that I was invited to exhibit and the first time that I had a wonderful team behind me.
The staff of the Leo Baeck Arts Centre were enthusiastic to make the exhibition a success because it was also their inaugural exhibition. They are, in fact, a community centre, and not exclusively an art gallery. But they show that where there's a will there's a way.
They put a hanging system in their dining room, added lighting,painted the walls and then started looking for artists. They take the view that a community is vibrant when culture from different sources enters its doors.
And what exhibition did they choose? The Perpetual Table! The title comes from the Arabic expression, "Sifra Daima"..""May your table last forever!"
The exhibition depicts Judeo-Babylonian and Old Baghdadi culture through its table. The CD ROM includes the art work in the exhibition as well as recipes of old Baghdad, family stories, information about the culture and 20 videos of food, art and joy. And it contains the music of award winning Israeli oud player Yair Dalal.
I am happy. I did not sell a picture; I sold a few cd's, but money was not the main object. I shared my values and culture through a community centre that now incorporates artists into their value system. I did good!
The picture here is the main picture of the exhibition. It's a mixed media on paper called Kan u Ma Kan...which is Judeo-Babylonian for Īt happened and it didn't happen. Kan u Ma Kan is the Judeo-Babylonian opening to storytelling. I chose this as the centrepiece for The Perpetual Table because The Perpetual Table is the story of Judeo-Babylonian cuisine. It's colourful, sensual and its flavours linger long after the meal is over.
I wish you all Sifra Daima! May your table last forever!
Nita Tiffaha Jawary
www.nita.com.au/perp.html
