CityTelling Festival. Threshold, an installation in public spaces

Threshold is a sculpture project by artist Jyll Bradley (UK) inspired by the mezuzah, a small ritual object fixed to the doorways of Jewish homes and businesses. A mezuzah marks the human passage between private and public space and acts as a reminder to uphold good values in both. Kaunas was once home a large Jewish population, and the mezuzah was a common sight on city streets, but has disappeared since the Shoah. The Threshold project re-introduces the language and universal potential of mezuzah to Kaunas streets. Having identified buildings once connected to Jewish life, current residents and businesses are invited to host a Threshold sculpture at their doorway. Made of light reactive material, wood and mirror, these small sculptures reflect the generosity of those who choose to host one – and to remember.

‘Threshold takes a specific form from a particular historic context and interprets it into the contemporary moment in a way that gathers general and universal relevance. Jyll Bradley’s artwork may appear modest but it contains the considerable ambition to project the experience of a piece of Kaunas’ past in a way that could influence Europe’s future history.’

Lewis Biggs, Independent Curator.

Organizers: Kaunas 2022.

Partners: Kaunas Jewish Community, Tripsolo