Photos by leila rose bari/ The Digital Art Center

Alafranga and alaturca, 2023

mixed media 

70x80x5 cm each

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A sabil is a structure located along a main road or at a street corner, providing drinking water. It is a material symbol of sovereignty in a space, reflecting the ruler's obligation to provide water for the subjects. As a structure characteristic of the Ottoman period, the sabil also creates a spatial connection between different parts of the empire. The Sabil of Subih was built in the southern part of the city of Lod (al-Lidd) in the late 19th century, likely as an exceptional private initiative by one of the city's wealthy residents, following a conflict with the central government. The sabil sat along the road connecting Lod with the Judean Foothills and, like all sabils, served as a landmark and rest stop.

The diptych Alaturka and Alafranga refers to the two water spouts of the Sabil of Subih, which have bent over the years. The walls of the sabil are covered in "Spritz"—a distinctly Israeli finish known for its ability to create a uniform appearance by covering a wide range of materials. This unifying Spritz not only obscures the sabil’s practical function as a water source but also its social and cultural role as a symbol of hospitality and care for travelers. The bent spouts of the Spritz-covered sabil resemble clock hands when light falls on them, merging time with space. The presence of multiple time systems hints at the cultural and intellectual plurality and fluidity that characterized the Ottoman Empire at the turn of the century. Just as in the title of the work, in this sabil, modern and traditional times meet in a space where their struggle has evolved over the years but has never been resolved.

Dr. Avital Barak

Photo: HLP gallery/ Adriaan Hauwaert