Museum Guard / Mixed technique / 2019

The museum guard sits on a chair among the exhibits, a fleshy figure. She wears the official uniform of the Israel Museum. She seems to have been cut out of a small corner of Givat Ram, the site of Israel’s emblems of authority. She seems to be in charge of maintaining order in this space of mythical imagery: her uniform tightly fitting, hands on her thighs, fingers spread out. Even her nails are French manicured, edged in a slim white line.

However, from the starched white shirt collar, in place of the regular neck and head, emerges an electric fly zapper. It shines forth like some odd lighthouse of ultraviolet glow, extracted from grey institutionalism and from her quiet routine and sent to magical realms. It seems that a fertility figurine from the archaeology exhibit has taken form but is choosing to remain still among the rest, all of them female images. She has time; she is the personification of supernatural impulses. She was here before you and will remain long after.