Exploring the complexities of displacement and memory, a new exhibition titled “Transit – Images from Exile” in Dresden features artwork deeply rooted in one family’s journey. The paintings incorporate documents, including a poignant diary kept by the artist’s mother during her voyage to Argentina, offering a powerful glimpse into a life uprooted.
The artist meticulously reproduced copies of the original writings, utilizing both photocopies and facsimiles of her mother’s handwritten entries. These intimate reflections, penned in pencil, capture the impressions and emotions experienced during that pivotal sea crossing.Several canvases directly integrate these texts, creating a layered narrative.
The Weight of Untold Stories
interestingly, the topic of exile remained largely unspoken within the family during their years in Argentina.It wasn’t a subject addressed in school either, leading to a delayed understanding of its meaning. It wasn’t until the artist was nearly 47 years old, upon receiving these personal papers from her mother, that the full weight of the exile experiance truly resonated.
The exhibition’s location,the Zentralwerk in Dresden,holds particular resonance. Historically,this site was connected to forced labor during the Nazi era,adding another layer of meaning to the artwork. The artist’s mother was born in Dresden in 1926 and will celebrate her 100th birthday in November of this year, a fact that evokes a profound emotional response. She retains memories, despite being only six years old when she left, and had only one subsequent visit.
There’s a desire for the artwork to find a permanent home at the Zentralwerk. After traveling through various exhibitions, the hope is that these pieces, representing a long-held story, will finally find a place to settle.
