These miniature vessels sail through an imaginary world, embarking on a sort of personal and emotional journey. They venture though mysterious territories, and may carry concealed, secret messages – memories, notes, diaries, and fragments of letters or records. At the same time, they may also be perceived as empty vessels that each viewer may charge with his own private cargo of memories.

Ben-Nun Melamed’s fragile paper boats sail through peaceful, threatening or picturesque waters, much like life itself. Their journey gives rise to a unique narrative, while their ephemeral nature serves as a constant reminder of their imminent end.

In the context of an exhibition centered on cabinets of wonder, these boats may also be viewed as reminders of a collector’s journeys to faraway places in search of exotic and curious objects.

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