Mika Benesh

Thesis supervisor: TBD

Thesis title: Iraqi Jewish protective amulets

I’m a designer-researcher working between unceded Gadigal + Dharug Country and Tiohtià:ke in the australian and canadian colonies. Broadly speaking, I trace relationships between cultural institutions and archives, Jewish material cultures, queer / trans lives & movements, white supremacy and settler colonialism. Across my practice, i’m interested in catching a small hold of many Jewish futures.

I’m interested in facilitating emerging & marginal jewish ritual practices through Judaica-object design. at the moment I’m making protective amulets. As well as writing, I work in jewellery and object design, graphite, zines, print and book making, and textiles.

Some spaces, organisations and publications that have presented my work include AIRspace Projects, the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, The Bearded Tit, the National Association for the Visual Arts, Tributary Projects and Runway Journal. In 2021 I was a New Voices Fellow in partnership with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.