Lena Friedrich

Lena Friedrich is a French-American multimedia artist based in Paris, France. She is the author of the art book The Neurotic Notebook (2021) and the director of the documentary The Hermit (2014), which tells the remarkable story of a man who lived alone in the woods of Maine for 27 years. Additionally, she played Suzanne LaPadite in Inglourious Basterds (2009).

Driven by an insatiable curiosity, Lena navigates between French and English, developing a deep appreciation for the ambiguities and visual aspects of language. Known for her playful exploration of the tension between text and image across various media, she brings the same approach to objects, inviting us to look at ritual items with a fresh, engaging, and lighthearted perspective.

Her Hayom objects: Lena Friedrich has crafted ceramic mezuzot shaped like hands gently cradling the glass tube that holds the sacred parchment—both concealing and revealing it. This design encourages us to place our hand upon it when entering a room, as tradition dictates. In doing so, our hand softly touches and covers another hand, transforming the act into one of tenderness and care, as if protecting a loved one’s hand.
This interaction completes a meaningful cycle: the open hand, or Hamsa, is a universal symbol of blessing and protection—much like the mezuzah itself. It leaves us pondering: Who is protecting whom?