In The Israel Museum in Jerusalem, Venus of Birkat Ram, a tuff pebble figurine of a woman is kept in a miniature safe showcase, rotating on a rod. The figurine was found in 1981 at the archeological site at Ram Pool in the Northern Golan Heights by Professor Emeritus Naama Goren-Inbar, archaeologist and paleoanthropologist. It is thought to be the first artistic artifact created by mankind and is considered one of the most important archeological findings in Israel.

 

It is interesting that Venus is the name chosen for a figurine in the form of a 233,000-year-old woman, thousands of years before the mythological Venus was assimilated into the history of human consciousness. However, the mythological Venus was chosen as her name, a choice that indicates more than anything the power of ethos in shaping contemporary consciousness; the "real" Venus poured mythological content into the ancient statuette of her likeness though she, Venus of Birkat Ram, never had the chance to meet her at all.

 

On the axis of time that starts with Venus of Berkat Ram through the mythological Venus to the iconic Barbie of today, Toren tries to reflect upon the gap between two icons, the ancient figurine and the Barbie doll. Toren was drawn up into rendering a legion of mini figurines in pink glass.  

 

Admiration, divinity, a perfect feminine ideal and commercialization, all these are topics for contemplation in this work.

 

Archeological consultant: Neta Friedman
Height: 5 cm