Golem

GOLEM

Sculpture Month Houston 2023, curated by Volker Eisele, Silos at Sawyer Yards. Photos by Paul Hester.

THE GOLEM is a project that uses puppetry, automata, electronics, and sound to retell fragments of the ancient Hebrew legend of the same name. The project explores themes of hubris, power, and free-will to reflect upon ethical considerations of artificial intelligence.

In the original Golem myth from Jewish folklore, the story revolves around Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel, also known as the Maharal of Prague, who created a Golem out of clay to protect the Jewish community from anti-Semitic threats and violence in 16th-century Prague. To bring the Golem to life, the Rabbi inscribed the Hebrew word "emet" (truth) on its forehead, imbuing it with strength and power. The Golem became increasingly uncontrollable and posed a threat to the people it was intended to defend.