One of my sculptures stands on a small plaza near the main square of the commercial and industrial zone in the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem. I built it as a tribute to the builders of Jerusalem from the times of the Kingdom of Solomon, who built the temple on Mount Moriah, up to and including the builders of today. Since those times, the town has grown in all directions over the hills surrounding Jerusalem.

The sculpture represents what one might see through a telescope when watching a far-away galaxy which from the time of its inception continuously grows from the inside out, looking like a huge agitated mass. The background of the sculpture represents a stirring motion, matching the design on the floor.

In the lobby of the building, the floor is made of local marble, combined with imported, brown shaded marble, in the shape of the stirring motif. In the center of the stirring design is a verse written in copper lettering: "to build the house of carved stone" (Kings 1, 5:31).

A large modern builders' perpendicular or plumb bob hangs over the middle stirring assembly, representing a connection between the ancient and modern building professions. The main sculpture combines the words of the verse "four copper wheels to each machine" (Kings 1, 7:30), describing the ritual instruments in use in the Temple, as well as the industrial neighborhood of today's Talpiot. Four cogwheels are connected to one, as a modern interpretation to the ancient verse.

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PomPi d'ou (1989)

Le Grand CHARLLES (1989)

Le Grand CHARLLES (1989)
closer

Domestic Quasar (1989)

Two hundred ninety and nine millions
Seven hundred ninety and two thousands
Four hundred fifty six meters –
from second to its secondary from year to years.

From a flow of corpuscles stream –
To an electromagnetic energy ray of light,
Scurries a hasty transcendental beam
To its youthful twilight.

An old quasar with his sole eye winks
A black hole emitting sounds of swallow
The galactic mixer only vibration transmits
Like a lost interstellar radiated radio.

And there was light and let there be night
And he on his foundation lies, and she deep into his belly fliesÉ

Spring Time (1992)
an homage to Will Shakespeare

In spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding a ding;
Sweet lovers love the spring

Four Copper Wheels to Each Machine (1994)
installation

Four Copper Wheels to Each Machine (1994)
adorned with the artist's family

Four Copper Wheels to Each Machine (1994)
in the lobby

Mšbius ex-machina (2004)
closer

Mšbius ex-machina (2004)

Pendulumantis (2005)

Pendulumantis (2005)
closer

Ironic Tree (Adansonia digitata Ferrum) (2007)

May Flowers (2009)
Arum Massachusetts

 


Three-dimensional, multi-meaning combinations of old or quaint objects, designed to change completely the meaning of the constituent parts. Humor and amusement are a none-too-subtle goal. Some are reminiscent of Edward Leer's nonsense poems, and others are like cryptic crosswords Each "nonsensesculpture" is a conglomeration of objects, presented as a decorative object, to be placed on a wall or shelf.

These "sculptural mutations" are a bit like "the immortal kitsch"; but they contain a deeper meaning too. Objects from different times and cultures are used to form a double meaning in a different connotation of language or culture. By mixing objects of different cultures and periods, this kind of art is an antithesis to culture and to art itself.

Fire! (1988)

Jouster Joe Pops the Pope (1988)

 

Buccinal-Trumpery (1988)

Relatively Totem (1988)
One-stone statue
displays a statute
of much stature.

Chairman of the Board (1989)

 

Horscope (1989)

Egregious (1989)

Niagara (1989)

RICHARD GEAR (1989)

Piss-Off (1992)

Perpetuum-Mobile (1992)

All My Eggs (1992)

Handicap (1992)

Headache / Capsulitis (1992)

Picklock (1992)

(1992)

 

King Saul (1992)

 

Horsefeathers (1992)
Horse fly
Fly wheel
Wheel horse

A Horse of Another Color (1992)

Roll-Britania (1993)

Penicillate (1993)

Pistil (1993)

Algometer (1994)

Little Green Ming (1996)



CanÕt Make Head or Tail of It (1998)

Slow Pigeon (1999)

Slow Pigeon (1999)

 

A Gesture to Ladino (2005)
The Language of "The Errant Jew" of Spain.

Translation:
Comparative Measuring.
Comparison of energy to distance.
The measuring tool contains 100 milliliter of beans. Every cubic milliliter of beans produces 2 calories, altogether 200 calories.
By walking three kilometer, the body burns 200 calories.
Conclusion: 100 milliliter of beans equal three kilometers.

Who can afford an odd old Ford (2006)

A. "Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wantsÉ"

B. Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

Cutterpeeler (2006)

Little Green Man (2008)





Maimonides (2008)
front

Maimonides (2008)
back

Little Green M.E.N (2009)

Deus Ex Machina (2010)
front

Deus Ex Machina (2010)
rear

Deus Ex Machina (2010)

left: The Canaanite god ÒReshefÓ from 3000 BCE

right: Motometer, Dog Bone Hood Ornament Radiator Mascot / Thermometer by ÒAmericanÓ from 1920 CE

 

Memo (2010)

Hade Emblems (2010)
Predator dodges meeting on ascension of Green Mountain (859 m)—association with Megiddo Mountain (187 m) and Eschatological "hell-met"

 

An anti – Lope (Neapolitan) (2010)

Game instructions
¥
Dark squares for movement of antelopes.
¥
Pale squares for grass to the antelopes.
¥
Beware the Jabberwocky.
¥ Beware the Jubjub Bird.



Old drawings
The Watermelon Eater (1971)
   

Pets (1971)
   

Zoo Walker (1971)
   

Through the Looking Glass (1971)
   

Fast Food (1971)
   

Fish Eye (1971)
   

Udi Cain (Ehud Chaikin) chaikin@netvision.net.il

Photos by Hanan Dynel.