Shadows of Shoah is an artistic educational project, communicating the gravity and significance of the Holocaust in a unique way. Using photography and original music, selected episodes from survivors' experiences are presented in a brief, compelling format. To reach a generation for whom the Holocaust holds little relevance or significance, Shadows of Shoah strives to produce powerful and evocative art while carefully maintaining historical accuracy.
The incomprehensible tragedy we refer to as the Holocaust ended in 1945. The antisemitism that inspired it lives on.
Despite the Holocaust's uniqueness and its status as one of the most comprehensively documented events in human history, the memory of this, the 20th century's defining event, is increasingly under assault. Outright denial may remain a fringe phenomenon, but other less direct forms of distortion have arisen. Universalization, depreciation, and moral equivalence often function as not-so-distant-cousins to an anti-Zionism that shows itself to be little more than poorly veiled antisemitism. In a climate of popular ignorance, apathy, and passivity, these trends have combined to create conditions that seem eerily familiar to those who lived in 1930s Europe.
Shadows of Shoah stands against the resurgence of an ancient hatred.
In May 2012, Shadows of Shoah was incorporated as a charitable trust. The trust objectives are Holocaust and antisemitism education. The trust is chaired by Robert Narev, MNZM.
Late in 2012, the Raye Freedman Trust agreed to support the construction of the Shadows of Shoah Exhibition. Work began immediately on construction of this highly innovative project.
NZ PM John Key, Inge Woolf, Robert Narev MNZM, Perry Trotter
Shadows of Shoah Exhibition Launch
On 25 January 2013, the Prime Minister of NZ, Rt Hon John Key, launched the Shadows of Shoah Exhibition. The opening was held at an event associated with United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The Shadows of Shoah Exhibition is now available for bookings by museums, galleries, cultural centres, universities and other venues. Already we have a request to take the Shadows of Shoah Exhibition to Europe late 2013-2014. An announcement will be made shortly. Requests to stage Shadows of Shoah at events, public meetings and conferences, either as a full exhibition or in a reduced form, in New Zealand or overseas, are welcomed.
Background
Shadows of Shoah is the work of Perry and Sheree Trotter. Their interest in the Holocaust is rooted in their commitment to the Jewish people and their quest to understand the historical, theological, and spiritual roots of antisemitism. They identify as friends of the Jewish people, biblical Zionists, and, cautiously, as evangelical Christians. Cautiously, simply because there are too many who claim the latter term and yet espouse a supersessionist theology that is ultimately anti-Judaic or anti-Zionist. They are acutely conscious of the role of Christendom's historically dominant (but, in their view, aberrant) theology in preparing the ground for the Holocaust.
Ours is a media saturated generation. Young people may be 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. Shadows of Shoah has been reviewed by leaders in the field of Holocaust art and education and has been described as "unique and extremely high-end".
Production
Shadows of Shoah is a multifaceted work and exists or will exist in the following forms:
- the Shadows of Shoah Exhibition. It will be replicated for permanent installations as well as for touring to museums, galleries, community cultural centres, schools, libraries, churches and synagogues. A detailed explanatory video will be available shortly.
- online movies at www.shadowsofshoah.com
- a simplified static photographic exhibition
- a Shadows of Shoah coffee table book
- a fully developed free Shadows of Shoah iPad app. It will include a comprehensive teaching plan and a full range of Holocaust related resources. Offering a fully developed app free of charge will facilitate Shadows of Shoah's worldwide distribution.
Perry and Sheree Trotter, founders of Shadows of Shoah
Sponsorship
Shadows of Shoah is an ongoing work and until very recently was funded by Perry and Sheree Trotter. The Shadows of Shoah Exhibition is now established and the charitable trust is seeking funding in order to tour the exhibition and enable the collection of further survivor stories. The various additional educational resources will be developed as funding becomes available.
For those considering supporting Shadows of Shoah, details can be found here.
For other queries, please make contact.
Project History
While visiting friends at Kibbutz Gan Shmuel, Israel, in 2008, Perry and Sheree Trotter interviewed and photographed seven Holocaust survivors. More recently they met and photographed nineteen survivors in cooperation with Sydney Jewish Museum and Melbourne's Jewish Holocaust Centre and a smaller number here in New Zealand. At time of writing they have photographed thirty five survivors. Shadows of Shoah photography and interviews will continue as long as there are survivors living.
