Holocaust Memorial Day Exhibition - From 24th January until 28th February
In Memoriam is my first exhibition dedicated to International Holocaust Memorial Day. The exhibition consists of images created by me in 2013 of the Jewish Memorial, Berlin - a visit that has left a lasting impression on my psyche. These images are presented on stones found lying on Edinburgh beaches. The stones represent the rigidity and unyielding nature of the horror the Memorial conveys. Plaster casts of plants of remembrance also feature in the exhibition, together with a number of scented oils. For the plaster casts, I have used artificial poppies and forget-me-nots as well as live sprigs of rosemary. These are all plants of remembrance. In contrast to the stone presentation of my images, the plaster cast flowers symbolize the everlasting love and memory of survivors of the Holocaust for their family and friends throughout the world and throughout time. These pieces are intended to be handled, so please go ahead. Likewise, please smell the fragrant oils as these, too, represent various flowers of love and remembrance, among them, roses and jasmine. The exhibition also includes an audio guide, providing description of all the pieces on display, together with Braille and large-print text. Finally, I should like to thank Scott McKail and his staff at McDonald Road Library for inviting me to create this work. I should also like to thank artists Criss Roden, Alice Myers and Duncan Robertson for their invaluable collaboration and assistance during this project.
Rosita McKenzie (January 2015)?