Michael Kenna Exhibition Inaugurated at the European Center of Deported Resistance Members
On Friday, November 15, 2024, the European Center of Deported Resistance Members hosted the inauguration of the exhibition Michael Kenna: Photographs of the Natzweiler Concentration Camp at the site of the former Natzweiler-Struthof camp. The event, held in the presence of the acclaimed photographer, brought together a significant audience to reflect on history through Kenna’s evocative black-and-white imagery.
The evening was organized by the National Office for Veterans and Victims of War (ONACVG), represented by its Director-General, Marie-Christine Verdier-Jouclas, and the European Center’s Director, Michaël Landolt. Both spoke about the importance of preserving and sharing the memory of the atrocities that occurred at Natzweiler, highlighting the vital role of art in historical remembrance.
Highlights of the Inauguration
Attendees had the rare opportunity to engage with Michael Kenna, whose work has redefined the artistic approach to documenting sites of historical trauma. His photographs, created over a span of 15 years, were taken across abandoned Nazi concentration camps in Europe, including Natzweiler-Struthof, the first camp he photographed.
The exhibition features 41 photographs, including 17 exceptional prints specially produced for this event. Kenna’s work transforms the ruins of the camp into poignant symbols of remembrance, using stark contrasts and precise framing to evoke both reflection and emotion.
The event commemorated the 80th anniversary of the camp’s liberation by American forces on November 25, 1944. Attendees viewed Kenna’s evocative photographs alongside artifacts from the camp, including drawings by former detainees, personal items used by deportees, and historical images captured during the camp’s liberation.
Organized in collaboration with the National Museum of the Resistance, the exhibition underscores the critical role of cultural institutions in preserving history and fostering education for future generations.
The exhibition remains open until March 15, 2025.
Former Natzweiler concentration camp and its satellite camps received the European Heritage Label in 2017.
