Siona Benjamin

Siona Benjamin

On our recent visit to the Flomenhaft Gallery, I was delighted to see some interesting paintings and works of art from different cultures around the world but the exhibit that really struck me was that of Siona Benjamin.

Benjamin is a woman who grew up in India and was brought up to be Jewish in a predominantly Muslim and Hindu country. She also attended Catholic and Zoroastrian schools all the while maintaining her Jewish heritage. Her artwork really reflects this diverse cultural background.

What attracted me to her paintings were the Hebrew letters written on them. Being raised in a Jewish community and attending Yeshivah for 12 years, I was able to read what she had written and felt an instant connection. Most of her paintings show women with their names written underneath and I realized that they are mostly heroines from the Torah/Old Testament and I have learned the stories behind a lot of them. What was also interesting was the way Benjamin incorporated her Indian culture into the paintings. The figures are the blue color that is shown in most depictions of Indian deities. Some figures also have multiple arms or legs, as is portrayed of most Indian deities.

The painting that I analyzed was of a woman floating inside a fire with her arms held over her head. On the bottom of the painting there are Hebrew letters spelling out the name Sarah. On the top Hebrew letters (תמיד נר) that, translated to English, say “perpetual candle.” The story behind Sarah is that she is the mother of all Jews, one of the matriarchs that built up the Jewish nation. It is written that she was beautiful, free of sin, and extremely modest. A holy cloud always hovered above her tent and the candles that she lit every Friday evening miraculously lasted until the next Friday evening.

Millions of Jewish women today partake in the tradition of lighting Shabbat candles every Friday evening, as Sarah had done. To me, this painting is saying that although Sarah is no longer living, her legacy and flame of her existence lives on in Jewish women as they ritually light the Shabbat candles.

Upon closer examination, I saw that Sarah is wearing a kippah (the head-covering) and tefillin (the band worn around her head), customarily worn by Jewish men when they pray. The background is covered with intricate designs and Jewish symbols. There are also white lines radiating from her waist, the outline of a long, flowing skirt. In accordance with her Indian culture, Sarah is also painted blue and is wearing jewelry usually worn by Indian women.

The way Benjamin incorporates so many aspects of her life and culture into her paintings is astonishing. All in all, a lovely exhibit!