So far, I have mostly referred or discussed art making and art processes in relation to therapy, healing and memory; however, art has always provided a powerful way to document experience, suffering and pain, in particular. A lot of art has been created across time and diverse contexts by survivors of all forms of maltreatment, abuse, torture, violence and injustice. For instance, survivors of World War II concentration camps – men, women and children – have recorded their experiences and suffering either through drawing and painting or through writing (diaries and books). Drawing has been recognized, as both art and documentary evidence, and Holocaust art is often considered documentary art, produced, at least partially, to record ‘the indescribable’ for future generations. Esther Lurie* is one artist among many other survivors who recorded life in the ghetto and concentration camps she was sent to. She drew men, women and children**, scenes of human hardship and nature. During the Eichmann trial, which took place in Jerusalem in 1961, Lurie’s works from the time of World War II served as testimony (http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007952Lurie, Esther (1913–1998). Art depicting trauma created by inhumanity and violence is not only created by survivors, artists and non-artists, but torture, war experiences and other human rights violations have also been documented by famous artists across time, whether they experienced these first hand or not. Goya was one great artist who depicted the atrocity of war in his etchings The Disasters of War. Finally, as a species we tend to be in denial – to be blind to terror and torture and art that depicts these atrocities can keep us outraged and empathic towards others’ suffering.
Tonya Kyriazis-Alexandri, August 30th, 2014
* You can view some of Lurie’s sketches and watercolours here: http://art.holocaust-education.net/explore.asp?langid=1&submenu=200&id=6
** You can view some drawings by Jewish children who stayed in concentration camps here: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-26987720
