Metavel

Metavel is the stage name of Renée Koppel, an internationally known Israeli calligrapher and miniaturist who specializes in Judaica. The artist, who comes from Algeria, has lived in Tel Aviv since 1960.

Life

In 1960 Renée Koppel emigrated from Algeria to Israel. There she was initially a teacher and, from 1966 to 1979, cultural attachée of the French embassy. Since then she has devoted herself to painting and studying Kabbalah. Since 1968 she has been married to the author Elazar Benyoëtz , who publishes in German and who also gave her her stage name: Metavel, which can mean "Good G * ttes" or "Immersion (in the Torah)".

plant

After initial attempts at abstract painting, Metavel devoted himself primarily to biblical themes and texts from Jewish tradition. She only uses water colors. Her works have been exhibited several times in Israel, Germany and other European countries, including the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris and the Wolfson Museum in Jerusalem.

Books

Metavel published numerous books on texts of the Bible, including on creation, on the books of Kohelet, Ruth, Esther and on homiletic writings of Judaism, such as the Haggada. Your Israeli publisher is Even Hoshen.

Exhibitions (selection)

• 2010 Münster Bible Museum
• 2007 City Museum Hattingen, City Church Wuppertal
• 1994 synagogue in Vienna
• 1993 Dominican monastery in Frankfurt am Main
• 1985 Wolfson Museum, Jerusalem
• 1980 Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

Awards (selection)

In 1981 and 1983 she received the Prize of the Society for Jewish Art in Jerusalem for her works on the Passover Haggadah and "Jerusalem as a Symbol". With her book “Passover Haggadah” she won the 1989 competition for “Outstanding Achievements in Design: The Most Beautiful Israeli Book” and thus the prize from the Israeli Ministry of Trade and Industry.

WebLinks

• Website of the artist [1]
• Website of the publisher Eden Hoshen [2]
• Metavel's script images [3]