Shadows of Shoah: Holocaust Stories shown in Upper Hutt

Shadows of Shoah: Holocaust Stories Shown in Upper Hutt

Expressions Whirinaki Arts and Entertainment Centre is proud to present Shadows of Shoah; a ground breaking exhibition which presents the gravity and significance of the Holocaust in a unique and moving way. Opening on 13 February this extraordinary exhibition presents the story of the Holocaust in an emotionally powerfully-charged way using black and white portraiture, original music and film, together with high end technology.

The Shoah (Hebrew meaning “the catastrophe”) or Holocaust was the Nazi perpetrated genocide of 6 million Jews from 1941 - 1945. The work is based on interviews with over 35 Holocaust survivors from around the world, including New Zealand with selected poignant incidents form the survivor’s experiences documented by by Auckland Artist Perry Trotter and musician Sheree Trotter. Perry is a fourth generation New Zealander and is a photographer and composer. Sheree is of Maori descent, has undertaken an educators course at Yad VaShem and is currently pursuing a postgraduate honours degree in history at the University of Auckland. The Shadows of Shoah uses multiple HD projectors, HD monitors, motion sensors, custom control software, and audio equipment, all housed in a 7.76m diameter circular enclosure to create an intimate and moving environment. Trotter explains saying “the Shoah (or Holocaust) is one of the most documented events in all of human history. And yet, for all the evidence that is gathered, all the documentation that is amassed, there is something that is often neglected. When one speaks of a thousand, a million, six million, the personal experience of the individual son or daughter, brother or sister, mother or father, is too readily subsumed in the statistic. We also live in a media saturated generation where young people are less likely to take the time to read a history book or to watch a lengthy documentary. In order to reach the present culture Shadows of Shoah uses strong imagery, original music and poignant, brief, historically accurate accounts. I have attempted to create something beautiful out of material that exposes and confronts something within the human condition that is grotesque."

Since its launch, the exhibition has been touring museums, art galleries, schools and public spaces throughout New Zealand and has been described as unique, ground breaking and cutting edge, and extremely high end. Shadows of Shoah is incorporated as a charitable trust and is chaired by Robert Narev, MNZM, a survivor of Theresienstadt. In incorporation of the exhibition Mr Narev will share his personal moving story on Sunday 14 February at 1pm in ‘ Survivor Stories’ a unique opportunity to hear insights of his story and into this exhibition.
Shadows of Shoah

20 February – 15 May 2016

Open 7 days, 9am – 4pm

Free Entry

Expressions Whirinaki Arts & Entertainment Centre

836 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt

www.expressions.org.nz

ENDS

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