Holocaust Memorials:
In 2019, I went with my family to the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. In 2016, I went to the US Washington Holocaust Museum. Both experiences were surreal, I cannot unsee what I saw. When I was walking through both places I could only imagine what my great grandfather saw when he went to Auschwitz.
My New Zealand Great Grandfather was involved in a book called Silent Casualties. Also fighting in the Second world war and surviving this book retells the stories.
Artist research:
This memorial in Philadelphia commemorates the Vietnam war. On the left you will see an etching. This work shows the desperation among the children. How this relates to my work as I can do some pen sketches, as it is strength. I could also do pen work directly only the clay or plaster. I am thinking of doing half plaster moulds and having them stand up. Then drawing from the inside and onto a piece of paper as it is coming alive as well as to show the connection to physically touching to only seeing something.
I found Rick Amor’s work by searching up War memorial art. I like how this captures emotion, the colours of the oil paint relate strongly to the military but also give uncertainty as the person looks out into the distance. With war one’s fate of whether they would return home was the demon lurking over every man’s shoulder. I can try to use similar colours to give more meaning to my work and make sure people feel the correct emotions. I want them feel disgusted, sad, speechless but also fascinated by my work. I am doing this for a reason.
