The Holocaust in Lithuania through Art 2021

Join us to hear an enlightening talk by Leora Raikin, Founder and Executive Director of the David Labkovski Project, which advances knowledge of the Holocaust through the art of David Labkovski and emphasises the importance of tolerance, acceptance and bearing witness to history. David Labkovski grew up in Vilna and his work shows a thriving city, with people participating in their everyday activities.

In 1937, David Labkovski was drafted into the Red Army and shortly thereafter, was sentenced to the Gulag Siberia for 3 years as 'an enemy of the state.' His self-portraits show hollow eyes, revealing utter despair and dehumanisation faced in the prison camp.

After completing his sentence, Labkovski returned to a destroyed city and to the loss of almost the entire Jewish community. He remained under Soviet oppression until 1958 when he immigrated to Israel. It was his dream that his artwork be shared with a broad audience to bear witness to the past and share his renewed hope in the future.