The Wiener Holocaust Library in London presents an exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of Bergen-Belsen’s liberation, featuring Eric Taylor’s poignant artworks, survivor sketches, and personal accounts that reveal the camp’s horrific legacy and the broader context of Holocaust narratives.
A new exhibition at the Wiener Holocaust Library in London marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen. It features poignant artworks, photographs, and letters that illustrate the grim realities of life in one of Nazi Germany’s most notorious concentration camps, where over 50,000 inmates lost their lives.
Among the highlights are portraits by British soldier and artist Eric Taylor, who liberated the camp on 15 April 1945. Curator Barbara Warnock noted, “We hold nine paintings by Eric Taylor in our collection, each one distinguishing individuals from the wider horror he witnessed as a soldier entering the camp.”
Following the camp’s liberation, Taylor returned to create paintings from his sketches. Warnock remarked, “The paintings evoke the paradox of ‘liberation.’ Liberation did not bring reprieve for those too ill or malnourished for freedom to be of any use—under one portrait Taylor left a handwritten inscription, ‘the unbelievable horror of Belsen was beyond human understanding.'”
Another inscription conveys a sense of hope: “I am glad you are recording what they have done to me.” Warnock expressed the aim of the exhibition: to highlight the importance of the evidence showcasing the crimes committed at Belsen through various artefacts.
Due to the Nazis’ record destruction and subsequent British actions post-liberation, artefacts from Belsen are scarce. Other items in the exhibition include sketches by a camp survivor and a diary smuggled in by Ruth Wiener, detailing the adversities faced by Jewish prisoners, including recollections of Anne and Margot Frank, who died at the camp in 1945.
Toby Simpson, director of the Wiener Holocaust Library, stated, “Traces of Belsen takes a fresh look at a subject that many of us think we are familiar with, because of the images of overwhelming death and suffering that were broadcast to the world in April 1945.” Warnock hopes the exhibition will present a broader perspective on the camp’s complex history.
The exhibition runs from 10 April to 10 July 2023.
The exhibition at the Wiener Holocaust Library offers a poignant reflection on the horrors of Bergen-Belsen, emphasising the tragic consequences of war and the importance of remembrance. By presenting personal stories through various artefacts, it aims to foster understanding and awareness of the complex history surrounding the camp. Visitors can engage with the significant narratives behind these artworks, enhancing their insights into the past’s dark chapters.
Original Source: www.theartnewspaper.com