Exhibition Review: Martin Schoeller | Survivors: Faces of Life After the Holocaust
@Martion Schoeller. Moshe Ha-Elion, Holocaust_Survivors. ©Marton Schoeller, Courtesy to the artist and The Museum of Jewish Heritage.
Written by Max Wiener
Photo Edited by Billy Chen
Copy Edited by Kee'nan Haggen
Martin Schoeller is no stranger to the untrained photographic eye. His iconic style - and subjects - have been showcased worldwide and have captured the zeitgeist of modern celebrity in a way no other artist has. His new subjects, however, are placed under the spotlight for much different, more profound meanings. Showcased prominently at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, Survivors: Faces of Life After the Holocaust provides an intimate look at one of the world’s most dwindling and valuable populations.
Schoeller brings you closer to the celebrity than most photographers. His style is bright, bold, and in-your-face–showing dimples, birthmarks, and psyche with an unapologetic flare. His photographs of Christian Bale, Steve Carell, and others swiftly achieved iconic status. Perhaps a motto for his work would be, “if this is how it looks, then this is what I’ll show.”
@Martin Schoeller. Hannah Goslar-Pick, Holocaust_Survivors. ©Marton Schoeller, Courtesy to the artist and The Museum of Jewish Heritage.
But what happens when a celebrity photographer takes away his most valuable asset? This exhibition proves that Schoeller doesn’t miss a beat with his work and provides one of his most profound series. Working closely with Yad Vashem - Israel’s memorial to Holocaust victims - Schoeller captured and procured 75 images to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in 2020. This Nazi death camp claimed over one million lives, the majority of which were Jews. As perhaps one of the keynote anniversaries at the forefront of Jewish culture, Schoeller honors it with diligence and praise.
Schoeller’s unique style of photography shows the years these individuals have under their belts, a feature that works beautifully for this series. While some Holocaust survivors are approaching their hundredth birthdays, most have passed away. Schoeller’s photography begs us to appreciate these significant people while we still have the chance. He explicitly showcases the wrinkles and bags under their eyes–a sign of aging as they glare into the camera.
@Martion Schoeller. Naftali Furst, Holocaust Survivors. ©Marton Schoeller, Courtesy to the artist and The Museum of Jewish Heritage.
Today, most hate crimes in the United States are committed against Jewish people. Innocent families now have to worry about their lives while attending synagogue or celebrating their culture publicly. The closeness of Schoeller’s images makes it feel like these incredible people are right here with us, warning us about the horrors that human beings are capable of. These images warn us about the darkness ahead and ask us to do our part to stop this landslide of hatred that has consumed our country on such a grand (and unfortunate) scale.
@Martin Schoeller. Marta Wise, Holocaust Survivors. ©Marton Schoeller, Courtesy to the artist and The Museum of Jewish Heritage.
As a Jewish person writing this, I can tell you that this is one of the most incredible photographic series I’ve seen. I have been lucky to see multiple Holocaust survivors speak on their experiences, which are truly haunting and humbling. This exhibition brings a face to the stories of hatred and atrocity suffered by Jewish people in ways I have rarely seen.
