Who are we? How much do we conceal? Kate Hendrickson’s inquiry begins with the history of the Crypto-Jews who outwardly converted during the Inquisition but continued to practice their religion, disguising it ingeniously from the authorities. However despite concealing who they were, bits were still revealed to those who knew where to look. Jews for centuries have concealed their faith by hiding the symbols of Judaism for fear of antisemitism. To this day people still mask who they truly are for fear of rejection.
Her artwork explores and reconciles feelings of discomfort within revealing that Judaism is the faith she has chosen. How much does she reveal? As you look closer at her works on paper, you will see that there are pieces ofconcealed Hebrew words peaking out and revealing themselves from their surrounding abstracted urban and natural environs. She hopes that the personal inquiry within her drawings will help everyone feel more comfortable proudly expressing who they really are.
