Art and Migration

Art Works by Refugee Artists from Nazi Germany in Britain

31 May – 29 June 2008

A unique opportunity to see a private collection of works produced by refugee artists who fled Germany in the wake of World War II.

The Otter Gallery is delighted to be hosting this exhibition curated by Dr Jutta Vincent, Barber Institute of Fine Art, in conjunction with the conference.

What effect does the experience of migration have on a visual artist’s work?

The forthcoming exhibition Art and Migration provides a unique opportunity to see a private collection of works by artists who address this question.  These works provide a fascinating insight into the variety of works that were produced by exiled artists who fled Nazi Germany and lived in Britain during this turbulent and highly politicised period in history.

The works in the collection utilise a wide variety of media and artistic genre; ranging from landscapes and portraiture, to more abstract pieces. A number of the works directly, or indirectly, address the artist’s experiences of migration and subsequent internment in British camps in the 1940s. Artists such as Martin Bloch (1883 – 1954), Hans Feibusch (1898 – 1998) and Ludwig Meidner (1884 – 1966) are represented alongside works by lesser known artists.

A fully illustrated catalogue will be available. This catalogue provides the reader with a detailed socio-political and cultural context for these artists migrating during a highly politicised period in history. It also offers a short biographical account of each artist’s career and their migration and discusses the works in the collection, setting them in the context of the artist’s own oeuvre. Full colour and black and white illustrations.

Art & Migration will be open during Refugee Week (16 – 20 June).  The Otter Gallery, in partnership with West Sussex County Council’s Ethnic Minority Achievement  Team, will be running workshops specifically with West Sussex young people from a refugee background.  These workshops will be based on photography and words and will be led by artist Jimmy Symonds. Jimmy Symonds is a teacher, photographer and creative writer. He works with people of all ages and abilities, running special workshops and giving individual advice. Jimmy has an MA from the Royal College of Art, and has written several books for children.

Opening times: Monday – Friday 9.00 am – 5.00pm Admission Free.

For further information please contact Kate Maple or Emily Lumley on 01243 816098

e-mail: k.maple@chi.ac.uk / e.lumley@chi.ac.uk