Zehava1 (2022) is a 3D animated video work by Ruth Patir, set on a lush kibbutz lawn where five Canaanite fertility figurines—loosely dated to the Second Temple period—dance to Chava Alberstein’s rendition of “Flower of the Lilach.”

The animation playfully collides Zionist pastoral imagery with ancient Canaanite symbols, creating a scene that’s both tender and absurd. The figurines move with uncanny grace, unsettling the boundaries between archaeology, nationalism, and fantasy.

The work was made in collaboration with Gila, a senior women’s dance company led by Galit Liss. I built the animation based on video recordings of the troupe’s improvisations, translating their movements into expressive digital motion.