There are certain quotes which convey so much in just a few words. These words are like keys, unlocking important ideas, and great insight.
Every Survivor Has a Story to Tell, 2018, Nicola Anthony
This series of twelve sculptures was created in 2018 for USC Shoah Foundation, and features a quote from the inspirational man and Holocaust survivor, Isaac Goodfriend. In this sculpture, these words represent the thousands of lives which we can learn about and connect with through Shoah Foundation’s efforts.
Shoah Foundation’s tireless work to see that memories are not lost and that testimonies become part of an awareness-building process to inform our present and future, has greatly resonated with me.
The way Goodfriend lived his own life shows us that our stories and experiences can become a driving force to help us continue with our journeys: to bring kindness and generosity to others; and to do good with the lives we are given.
In a broader sense, Goodfriend’s words are also a reminder that we need to actively seek the stories of others not only because these are some of the most valuable gifts and teachings we can receive, but also to understand the immense amount of bravery behind the words.
About human stories in the eyes of this artist:
My artworks tell life stories in the form of text sculptures. Through sculpture, we can draw attention to import things in a different way, see life from another perspective, and even look into subjects which are challenging to address in other formats.
I always seek to find the repressed voices, the untold stories and the less commonly addressed aspects of society. These to me are the most important stories to tell, and the most important testimonies to read. There is something very special about being able to gain insight into the personal moments of fellow human beings, particularly in a world in which it is easy to feel disconnected.
I have travelled all over to seek human stories. Over the last 6 years I have been working with groups of displaced people internationally. There are often misperceptions, judgement and stereotypes surrounding these individuals. Through my work I try to give them a voice, tell the human side, foster compassion, as well as show up society’s instinct to judge and dismiss others who seem different or outside of ‘normal’ society. The worst example of this being the act of genocide.
Before this year I had not been able to tell the story of a genocide survivor through my art, and I found verified testimonies like these hard to source. When I first learned about what USC Shoah Foundation does and the immense archive of testimonies, I was awed and overwhelmed by the incredibly valuable resource: the thoughtfulness, heart and passion that has clearly gone into collecting, archiving, and preserving these life stories.
It has been an honour to be invited to work with a specific testimony from the archive, that of Jona Goldrich, which now exists as a large sculpture in the Foundation’s new home. It has been so meaningful to then create this series of small sculptures that truly represent the thousands of stories existing in the archive.
About the materials and making of this artwork:
This series of twelve sculptures are all individually created. Made from nickel-plated stainless steel, they have been carved using lasers and then shaped by heat and hand into a strand of words. Then they were twisted and woven into the form you see now.
Encasing the sentence within the glass dome is a common occurrence within my artwork. I like to compare the preciousness of words with strands of DNA, or to the twists and turns of life.
The metal is designed to allow the words to shimmer and change in the light, with different sections being highlighted as the sun moves overhead, whilst other words become projected in silhouette. My hope is that the mirror-like surface allows people to literally see themselves in the artwork- making the sculpture unique to each viewer who experiences it.
Every Survivor Has a Story to Tell, 2018, Nicola Anthony
See more text sculptures here.
