Écraser l’infâme!

Since it was established, the Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen has collected works of art by former prisoners from numerous European countries. In cooperation with the Zentrum für verfolgte Künste in Solingen, the Sachsenhausen Memorial plans to refurbish and publicly present a selection of works from its holdings. The exhibition will supplement works created by the artists during their imprisonment at the camp with loaned pieces produced by prisoners prior to and after their incarceration. Not only do these serve as historical source material that documents everyday life at the concentration camp, but first and foremost as stand-alone works of art. The project also includes monographic displays featuring such artists as Leo Haas, Hans and Lea Grundig, and Rudolf Karl von Ripper. Video screen presentations and a smartphone app will provide visitors with information on the individual displays and their scientific classification. These can be integrated into the design of a walk-through depository at the Sachsenhausen Memorial, ensuring the long-term visibility of the project.

Artist and Partners

The Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum are cooperating with the University of Osnabrück, Chair for Modern History and Historical Migration Studies, the Centre for Persecuted Arts in Solingen and the agency baier+wellach.

Curators: Jürgen Kaumkötter, Agnes Ohm with curatorial support by Peter Wellach

Research, artwork catalogue, biographies:
University of Osnabrück, Chair for Modern History and Historical Migration Studies: Prof. Christoph Rass, Miriam Adam, Dr Frank Wolff, Malte Schwickert and Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum: Agnes Ohm, Frauke Kerstens, Ewa Czerwiakowski

Texts: Jürgen Kaumkötter, Frauke Kerstens, Agnes Ohm

Media interface "artists": University of Osnabrück, Chair for Modern History and Historical Migration Studies

Artists: Jan Budding (NL), Peter Edel (Peter Hirschweh) (DDR), Leo Haas (CZ), Hans Grundig (DDR), Vladimir Matejka (CZ), Rudolf Karl (Charles) von Ripper (A), Viktor Siminski (PL), Karel Zahrádka (CZ)

Additional Venues and Dates:

Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen: September 2018; followed by presentations at the Terezín Memorial, starting 24 October 2019 at the MOCAK Museum for contemporary art Krakau.