News

A Dream Came True for JAI Artist Bonita Helmer: After 10 years of trying to get my series, The Four Worlds, placed - it finally happened! I tried for a university, a hospital, a public space and now they are in the Sanctuary at Ohr Hatorah Synagogue in Mar Vista. They are my Rothko Chapel. Each piece measures 7' x 12' and there is one on each wall. I am thrilled that they finally have a home. To view larger images visitBonitaHelmer.com, gallery 5.

THE FOUR WORLDS

According to the Kabbalah (the hidden mystical structure of the universe) the world is created as a great Tree of existence. This great tree is composed of four separate worlds connected by the Jacob’s Ladder. The highest world (Azilut), the World of Emanation, the next being the World of Creation (Beriah), then the World of Formation (Yetzirah) and finally the World of Action (Asiyyah). The paintings read from right to left.

 Within the center of the structure of the Four Worlds (“the great tree”), the Kabbalah also describes levels of existence relating to the individual. These levels create the center pole and core of the sfirot system. The Keter, located at the top of the head represents the crown and origin. The Daat, responsible for understanding and knowledge is found in the center of the throat. Beauty, or tefiret, is found in the center of the body. These three levels of existence form the spiritual world. Tefiret then joins with Yesod, or foundation, in the groin area and connects to Malkut, the divine body, which is located at the bottom of the feet to represent the physical world.

 I have created four different interpretations of the Four Worlds of Existence. Each painting is constructed with four separate panels reading as one complete work. Each painting also features one of the levels of existence found in the center pole of the Sfirot.

The complexity of the “charting” of the universe is a challenge as an artist. I am fascinated with the similarities of The Four Worlds of the Kabbalah, other ancient spiritual systems, and contemporary theories of physics. The wisdom of the ancient masters, when documenting this “unseen” structure never ceases to amaze me as I wander through the depths of understanding and try to capture these abstract concepts through images in paint.

-- Bonita Helmer