Colossus

Colossus is the name of Miri Chais's solo exhibition at the Shay Arye Gallery in Tel Aviv, {09.12.10 – 01.14.11}. In the installation a video stream flows towards the giant Colossus (3 meter tall) like “the river that issues from Eden to water the garden” [Genesis 2:10] of the Zoharic image of divine abundance or grace (shefa) which flows from ein sof (infinity) and enriches human reality.

However, unlike abundance in its enlightened, or spiritual sense, the river flowing through the exhibition is a river of excess. The Colossus is nourished by the ever-flowing stream of symbols and images, and yet remains gaunt and feeble. Miri Chais’ figures are full of images, yet transparent and insubstantial, like ghosts from cyberspace.

Miri Chais, The new new man, Plexiglass, LED, 2010