Narratives: Threads and Testimony

Narratives: Threads and Testimony is a new exhibition, showing work produced by two artists during our Narratives residency. The exhibition combines textiles, installation and sound pieces exploring family history surrounding the Holocaust.

Narratives is a collaborative six-month residency, involving twelve artists brought together by Venture Arts, The Lowry and Castlefield Gallery, with support from associates Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre and Education Trust, Explorers Project and Manchester Jewish Museum.

Two of the artists; Laura Nathan and Sarah Lee worked at Manchester Jewish Museum during their residency period, exploring their family stories through art. Through conversations, they discovered a shared family history of the Holocaust and Jewish heritage. Both had grandparents who were makers and experienced persecution due to their beliefs. Through their explorations, Laura and Sarah attempted to understand their histories and reconcile the traumas of those who came before them.

Laura Nathan told us;

“Some of my earliest childhood memories are focused around my grandparents’ unimaginable experiences in the Holocaust and I feel that generational trauma and anxiety has filtered from one generation to the next. Much of my work focuses around processing this dark history, dealing with anxieties, and exploring my identity as a culturally strong, yet secular Jewish woman.”

Laura processed an overwhelming collection of family documents and testimonies through the creation of a textiles and sound-based installation, which she called ‘Meine Geliebte Poppi’ ( ‘My beloved Poppi’).

Sarah Lee created intimate hand-embroidered pieces reinterpreting her grandfather’s experiences and the woodcarvings which he made to help process what he had been through. Sarah also gained inspiration through the repetition within the museum’s stained-glass windows and architecture.

EVENT | Meet the Artists Private View 

On Sun 16 April the museum are inviting people to a special event, in which there will be an opportunity to meet Laura Nathan and Sarah Lee and discuss the work on show. The event will take place in the Learning Studio and refreshments will be provided. Book your ticket here.

Manchester Jewish Museum is a ticketed venue, book your place here. The exhibition can be viewed as part of General Admission to the museum.

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