- By AC REMLER
The Holocaust Museum Los Angeles will unveil a poignant art installation called Die Plage on February 6, 2025, created by the late visual artist Harley Gaber.
Die Plage, or The Plague, is a large-scale collage of approximately 4,200 canvases that interpret German history from the Weimar Republic to the end of World War II. Gaber made multiple trips to Germany, researching archives and visiting historical sites to inform his work.
The exhibition consists of 600 of the 4,200 canvases, covering six walls in grid-like formation, as per the artist’s original design. The installation showcases Gaber’s unique perspective on this critical historical period and a comprehensive view of his interpretation.
The grid-like formation in Die Plage is both aesthetic and conceptual, symbolic of the systematic and bureaucratic nature of the Nazi regime, reflecting the ordered chaos of that period. The grid formation also enables a deliberate juxtaposition of images, allowing visitors to draw connections and contrasts between different canvases, enhancing the artwork’s narrative and emotional impact.
Gaber worked on Die Plage from 1993 to 2002, using various techniques, including collage, photomontage, painting, xerographic manipulation, pastel, and charcoal.
As the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles, exhibits like Die Plage become increasingly crucial in preserving their stories for future generations. The museum continues to innovate in its approach to Holocaust education, recently introducing AI technology that allows visitors to interact with survivor testimonies.
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