THE TOWER OF BABEL (2016)
HD-Video, 4‘20‘‘ English with Hebrew subtitles
The Tower of Babel (Hebrew: לבב לדגמ)This video work reimagines the ancient story from Genesis 11:1–9, which claims the origin the fractured nature of human language and communities. A united humanity speaking a single tongue attempts to build a monumental tower reaching toward heaven, but is struck down in a moment of divine intervention which takes this ambition as an affront. The people are scattered and their tongues are divided, so that they will no longer share and be capable of a common purpose.
Using footage from a National Geographic documentary, the work transforms the ancient myth into a commentary on modern-day colonization, globalization, and gentrification. The tower becomes a symbol not just of hubris, but of humanity’s ascent into a successful and sustained dominance over nature—earth, wind, water, and fire—relentlessly pursuing control, power, and also transcendence.The video uses the myth to speak to current geopolitical ambitions, specifically reflecting the expansionist ideologies underpinning modern settler colonialism, especially as it finds expression in the Middle East, the contemporary name of the region containing ancient Shinar. It critically explores the consequences of such endeavors, from the erasure of indigenous cultures to the environmental degradation caused by unchecked power. The Hebrew subtitles reflect the original context of the work's production at Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art. A public college in the Tel Aviv District city of Ramat Gan, Israel. But are also poignant given the original language of the myth, which explicitly plays on the assonance between Babel and בִּלבּוּל, the Hebrew word for confusion.This work is a vital addition to any collection or exhibition referencing current geopolitical conflicts and the ongoing legacy of colonialism. Created during my time studying in Tel Aviv and revised in 2024, the video work also foregrounds a personal political evolution from embeddedness in a society built on these structures toward criticality, toward an emergent clarity surrounding the execrations of land disputes within global power structures that prioritizes a free Palestine. It invites viewers to engage with the tensions between historical myth and modern realities, challenging them to reconsider the narratives that continue to shape our world today.SCREENING LINK UPON REQUEST 
