On January 29, 2025, a will be held in the German Bundestagon the occasion of the day of commemoration to the victims of National Socialism .
In this context, the exhibition "Memory of the Liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp - reminder for democracy" shown, which will be seen in the German Bundestag. In view of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the exhibition presents photographs of women, men and children who were detained in Auschwitz.
These pictures were created by the artist Monika Mendat based on original recordings from the archive of the State Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau . The exhibition is opened on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Paul Löbe House and is ceremoniously carried out by the Bundestag President Bärbel Bas in the presence of guests registered in front.
The exemption of the Ausschwitz concentration camp
On January 27, 1945, the Red Army freed the Auschwitz concentration camp. The National Socialists had tried to cover up their crimes and forced thousands of prisoners to marches. At that time there were still around 7,000 prisoners in the warehouse, including around 700 children. Many of the survivors were severely weakened and suffered from serious illnesses.
The exhibition and commemoration of Auschwitz should highlight the relevance of democracy and the threat of extremist ideologies. Among other things, the warnings of the political scientist Karl Dietrich Bracher , who pointed out the risks of new extremisms in 1976, and Bertolt Brecht's statement that the "lap from which the crawl" still "fertile" .
The liberation of Auschwitz was not only a decisive step towards the end of the Nazi regime, but also towards a democratic Europe and the establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany.
What is shown in the exhibition?
The exhibition on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp is devoted to the crucial moment of liberation and memorial attitude towards the victims of National Socialism .
It presents acrylic paintings by women, men and children at the moment of their liberation, as well as from those who have not survived the Holocaust. The show reminds that millions of people were persecuted and murdered by the National Socialists because of their origin, religion, political beliefs, sexual orientation or skin color.
Particular attention is paid to the representation of the victims, who are to be lifted out of their anonymity. Portrait images that are inspired by original photographs from the archive of the state museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau convey sensations of despair and hopelessness.
Abstract representations and the symbolism of the barbed wire, which indicates the warehouse fence, intensify these impressions. Twelve squares symbolize the dimension of a standing cell (0.80 x 0.80 m) and remind of unimaginable cruelty. The basic values of democracy are shown on the bottom of the standing cells, which were kicked with feet in the totalitarian Nazi regime.
About the artist Monika Mendat - between space and time
In the late 1970s, shaped by political unrest and social upheavals at a time, the young Monika Mendat experienced a childhood that was overshadowed by a traumatic event. At just three years, her parents fled her with her under difficult circumstances through the iron curtain from Poland to Sweden. This escape, which is a quantum leap into a new world for many, was not the final goal for the family. Instead, Germany was initially planned as a stopover, to the place where they settled.
The decision of her parents to leave their homeland behind, Monika shaped. The question of home became a central topic in her artistic work . But what does home in the modern world actually mean? Is it a geographical place where we are at home, or is it rather about emotional bonds and personal stories? In her works it becomes clear that home is far more for Monika Mendat than just a fixed point on the map; Rather, it is a dynamic process of interaction between past and the future.
The abstract painting she practices becomes the medium of your thoughts and feelings. Instead of clearly defined landscapes or portraits, it uses colors and shapes as a means of expression for memories and longings. In her pictures, she invites the viewer to go on a journey with her - be it in an imaginary cosmos full of possibilities, into a jungle of emotional complexity or into the infinite freedom of creativity.
This raises the question: Can we at all define home, or is it rather the result of our experiences and our connections to others? In a world of constant change and uncertainty, Monika Mendat shows through her art that we are all looking for a place in our own way in which we feel safe - no matter where this place may be.
The exhibition will be shown from January 29 to February 21, 2025 in the Hall of the Paul Löbe House.
It can be visited from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Public tours are offered as follows:
Thursday, February 6th, 3 p.m.
Friday, February 7th, 10 a.m.
Wednesday, February 12, 3 p.m.
Thursday, February 13, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, February 19, 3 p.m.
Thursday, February 20, 2 p.m.
To visit the exhibition, a registration via the registration form at www.bundestag.de/Parlamental_ necessary at the latest two working days before the desired visit date.
Please note: When registering, you must specify your complete first and last name, date of birth and a telephone number, under which you can be reached, as well as the date and time of the desired visit date. Registration is possible at the full hour.
The exhibition is via the west entrance of the Paul Löbe House, Konrad-Adenauer-Str. 1, 10557 Berlin, accessible. Please find yourself 15 minutes before the visit to the west gate staff so that there is enough time for the admission control.
Current information about the exhibition and visiting options can be found under this link .
Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza. Publicist, editor, and passionate blogger in the field of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Successful completion of a degree in web design as part of a university program (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expressive painting, and theater/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.
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