Artist’s Corner: Kremena Dimitrova - Blogpost 9

Follow Kremena's journey into the 50 Jewish Objects in this final blogpost. 

Deconstruct / Reconstruct: Turning a 13C Jewish Manuscript into 21C Comic Strips

The aim of my creative response was to turn the 13C Jewish manuscript Sefer Mitzvot Qatan (Semaq) into public history - as something that can leave the confines of The John Rylands Library and its website and become more accessible; as something that can start a conversation, spark curiosity and encourage a long-lasting interest in Jewish heritage, which I think more people should know about and celebrate. 

I see my creative response as adding a new layer of history to the manuscript and a new contemporary way to engage with it and commemorate it. To achieve the above, apart from creating the comic strip pillars, I will deliver comics/storytelling workshops in Jewish community sites in Autumn 2020 (dates to be confirmed) with the aim to showcase the project and widen understanding of artefacts, Jewish history and Jewish studies. I will also create merchandise inspired by my comic strip pillars, which will be available in The John Rylands Library’s shop (details to follow).

I am grateful to The University of Manchester’ Centre for Jewish Studies, Professor Alex Samely and Dr Stefania Silvestri for inviting me to work on this historically significant project. Throughout my creative journey, I was able to research, read and learn about Jewish heritage which has fascinated me. I hope this blog, together with my creative response to the manuscript, which will become part of The John Rylands Library’s permanent collections, and my workshops and merchandise, will help others become as fascinated with Jewish heritage as I am. 

You can also read about the project on my website: www.kremenadimitrova.com