Remember the Children, (Yad Vashem)
Et alors, les enfants. . . (Yad Vashem)
 

Oil - huile

40" x 30"

 

 

          

 

The great architect Moshie Safdie created a Memorial to the million and a half children who lost their lives in the Holocaust. This unique memorial is hollowed out from an underground cavern.

Walking through the memorial, visitors hear the names of murdered children, their ages and countries of origin in the background. This is my rendition of the feelings felt in that space of darkness filled with stars.

                                                                                                                                                   
10 years ago, I was on a painting assignment in Jerusalem. Once back in Ottawa I was unable to begin the artworks I was commissioned to paint. The Children's Memorial at Yad Vashem would not leave my mind. Based on the atmosphere and sights and sounds of the Memorial I created "Remember the Children". Since its creation it has had a life of its own - falling off shelves and easels when no one is around. It has been knocked over several times by objects stored above it and has almost had its canvas pierced through twice. Over the past 10 years I have never been able to photograph it properly no matter how hard I tried or what methods I used. It wasn't until yesterday, after giving it a 10th or 11th coat of protective liquin varnish that it simply popped with energy. I saw that it was ready to be photographed. . . And so I present to you, 10 years later, the raw sentiment felt during my visit to the Children's Memorial at Yad Vashem.
   
En 1999 je suis allé à Jérusalem. Dès mon retour à Ottawa, j’ai réalisé cette toile. Elle se voulait la première à être peinte. Elle représente l’intensité des sentiments ressentis pendant une visite au mémorial des enfants à Yad Vashem. Je ne pouvais ne pas décrire le pouvoir de cet espace noir rempli d’étoiles et de noms d’enfants décédés - dictés dans le noir. Depuis sa création la toile semble avoir une vie à elle. . . Elle semble tombée d’elle-même des tablettes et des trépieds. Elle s’est presque fait percer à plusieurs reprises et a toujours refusé être photographiée. Ce n’est que depuis hier, après 10 ans et une couche de vernis protectrice que j’ai réussie (elle s’est laissée) à la photographier.