Overview

Nira Pereg's works consistently examine sociological structures and social ceremonies. In this work, the artist documents the weekly ritual that takes place in Jerusalem's ultra-orthodox neighborhoods on the even of the Sabbath: the use of police barriers to block the passage of vehicles. These temporary barriers mark the boundary between sacred and secular time and space, and serve to underscore this community's distinct identity. The combination of documentary photography and an edited soundtrack create a theatrical experience, so that the people filmed by the artist appear to be participating in an activist art performance in the public sphere.