THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

111-iN 77.11_

1,171

• • -

N.r..... 7r...- 3:"

liumi,

7 -.::W,
,... --

*r"rT*7:. 77)%"):?-01 7';' 1) ''N:'":-7.;

•7' 1:72 11
1.1 .1.1j,in

Srl - ',7

',` ,

0,-0.-:, , -1,;„:„.1 , 7;;. ■'- 7„7:1 71:3N)::,' 71 ..?"..1

';'-W 1;.:"4.`'
rTrP''' r`=zD.- 1 '''):. 7-T1
:1L.17 77.:1W ':,`" 1. ;,,' 1.:1+. 1_ ::%.*"."ZW-rrINI :":7-ri;.:
1.2„]11 1??
T ''N1- -- 7N ' .' 2 '1.24.1

:::''.11 :":

bring to the surface memories hidden
deep down in our cultural and ethnic
consciousness."
Grunberg's sources of inspiration
are the symbolic imagery found in
Jerusalem, in ancient Hebrew manu-
scripts, and on Egyptian artifacts.
He has explored the Old City, often
finding motifs along walls and on
synagogues. Among the most recog-
nizable motifs are the stylized Egyp-
tian images. For example, the images
of the Four Sons come from canopic
jars (Egyptian funerary jars), each
with a different head. But Grunberg
translates these motifs into his own
language, abstracting them from
their original meaning.
He renders his woodcuts in the un-
relenting tones and startling light of
modern art, thereby having us view
these ancient motifs with a twen-
tieth-century eye. He juxtaposes the
past with the present in a way that
seems to parallel the movement of
the Passover Seder itself.
The script is amazingly smooth
and regular. Grunberg has developed
his own technique for printing the
calligraphy, but will not divulge the
secret of how it is done. He will tell
us, however, that each page of script
is a single wood block. The prints are
pulled from a nineteenth-century
printing press, onto handmade paper.
Forty-nine are in color, twenty-six are
in black and white.
When asked how he feels about
cohipleting such a major work, Grun-
berg answers with a brief recollec-
tion: Shortly after receiving the com-
mission from the Bezalel Academy,
he went to the British Museum to
view the fourteenth-century Golden
Haggadah. "After it was brought to
me, I was left alone in the room with
this magnificent illuminated manu-
script. I began to see my role as part
of a long tradition. I became aware
at that moment of the link between
my own work and that of the past."
It is indeed an awesome responsi-
bility that Maty Grunberg accepted,
and one that he has carried out with
inspired artistry. ❑

19

Using wood block — the
oldest of printing
techniques — and a secret
technique of calligraphy,
London artist Maty
Grunberg recently
completed a new Haggadah
that translates ancient
Passover motifs into
modern art.

Ti

. -,.....,-=,,

Friday, April 5, 1985

Artist Maty Grunberg at work at his
nineteenth century printing press. Each
page of script represents a single wood block
that will be printed on handmade paper.

