IT ALL started with a photo of Olga Horak holding a blanket woven from the hair of inmates destined for death in a concentration camp.
As photographer Katherine Griffiths captured the survivor’s portrait, the 29-year-old knew more locals had stories from the Holocaust.
The Sydney Jewish Museum at Darlinghurst has launched Griffiths’ exhibition of 44 photographic portraits of survivors holding emblematic photographs, letters and artefacts.
All the people portrayed in Closer — Portraits of Survival are active volunteers at the museum.
The exhibition has won accolades and the portrait of Ms Horak was chosen for the people’s choice award at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
“It was such an incredible experience just to listen to their stories and really be able to tell their narrative through portraiture — having the opportunity to photograph 44 of these incredible people who have been through such a horrific time,” Griffiths said.
Read the full article by Shaya Laughlin at the Wentworth Courier.