Oded Halahmy
Israeli, born Iraq, born 1938Ancient Game (Belbelwahach), 2006
Not on view
Bronze cast
Dimensions35 1/4 × 21 3/4 × 8 1/2 in. (89.5 × 55.2 × 21.6 cm)
Gift of the artist, 2010.16
During his career, Oded Halahmy experimented with figurative sculpture, Minimalism, and lyrical abstraction, finally creating works that were organic, symbolic, and partially figurative. Halahmy feels that sculpture is reflective of time and culture. Of works created at the same time as Ancient Game, Halahmy stated: “I started using imagery and symbolic forms from my youth in the Middle East. I use the Pomegranate (round and sensuous, a symbol of love, fertility and prosperity), the Palm Tree (date honey and growth), the Hand (identity and protection against the evil eye), the Crown, Flowers, Water, Sun, Moon, and Calligraphy.” For Halahmy, the process of creation is a spiritual connection that guides him through his works of art, representative of the search and desire for peace and harmony.
