Hebrew Manuscripts: Journeys of the Written Word

British Library – Paccar 2 Gallery, 2021

The exhibition highlighted the diversity of the Jewish diaspora and explored the interactions and influences between Jewish writers and scholars and the countries and cultures in which they lived. Through beautifully illuminated manuscripts, intricately detailed illustrations, and the fascinating personal stories revealed through the writings people have left behind, it looked at Jewish life, history and culture through the ages.

The design took the idea of the Jewish Diaspora - the scattered people - that created the exhibited documents in many places across the world. Since the exhibition brings these works together, it is as is if that diaspora has coalesced within the gallery. To represent this idea, we installed over 3,000 LEDs and filament lamps as a spectacular floating cloud, hovering over the exhibited works.

The introduction map places a light at each location where the manuscripts were written. The showcases and display setworks were arranged as a single cluster in the centre of the gallery. Gold painted forms and other details meant that the warm orange light reflected between all these items creating a communal and ‘candlelight’ atmosphere within which to experience the exhibition.