Shell of the Rock

Hilla Shamia

Powerful geological events have left their mark on rock and stone, shaping the landscapes we know throughout the world, including Israel. Rock and soil conservation efforts are crucial for our understanding of the Earth's development and of the forces that continue to shape it.
Similar to the skin of an animal, glass is a sort of protective shell for the rock. Its cultural uses emphasize the connection between the natural world and human artisanship. By tracing the morphological structure of the rock and reintegrating natural materials into it, this project opens a dialogue between interior and exterior, contents and outer shell, form, and substance.
The transparency of the glass allows a glimpse into a contained miniature world, revealing this stone's fragility compared to the heavy and hard rocks it seeks to represent. The glass shell freezes and restricts the movement of the sand, creating tension between nature's slow, powerful processes and the measured space of the museum.