Anusim: A Story Hidden in Plain Sight

Anusim: A Story Hidden in Plain Sight is a conceptual series of clay works that explores hidden identity through the language of functional objects. The title refers to the Jews who were forced to conceal their faith during the Spanish Inquisition, when many were compelled to convert to Christianity and live outwardly as Christians while quietly preserving Jewish rituals in private. The series reflects the emotional weight of this history—fear, resilience, and adaptation—while also resonating with the present moment, when rising antisemitism can still lead individuals to soften or conceal parts of who they are.

Each work appears as an ordinary household object—vessels, bowls, lighting, or containers—but reveals a concealed function as a Jewish ritual item. These dual-purpose forms embody the tension between public appearance and private truth. Built with layered clay and Nerikomi techniques, the surfaces carry traces of memory, pressure, and continuity. The work speaks not only about the past, but about the fragile balance between belonging, visibility, and survival.