2022. what is loved will never vanish
In the post-war years of World War II, millions of people are fleeing. The same goes for millions of Germans who have had their homeland in the former eastern German territories. They fled or were expelled and had to start anew far from home. Like so many others, my grandfather,Johannes Simmich, who was born and raised in Silesia, had to leave and flee the place of his childhood.
Many of those affected hoped for a long time to be able to return to their old homeland. With the fading of this hope, memories of the lost homeland were strengthened that resembled an ideal. The loss of homeland and traumatic experiences that were made during the flight were rarely dealt with in the years that followed and were often shrouded in silence.
“What is loved will never vanish” tells of remembering, suppressing and nostalgia, as well as the psychological and neurological influences of memories and trauma.
A transfigured view of the old homeland is juxtaposed with found footage material of the time on various artistic levels. At the same time, texts provide an insight into Johannes’ life before, during and after his expulsion.
“What is loved will never vanished” was part of the group exhibition “Don’t dream it’s over” and was shown in March 2022 in Dortmund, Germany.
In the post-war years of World War II, millions of people are fleeing. The same goes for millions of Germans who have had their homeland in the former eastern German territories. They fled or were expelled and had to start anew far from home. Like so many others, my grandfather,Johannes Simmich, who was born and raised in Silesia, had to leave and flee the place of his childhood.
Many of those affected hoped for a long time to be able to return to their old homeland. With the fading of this hope, memories of the lost homeland were strengthened that resembled an ideal. The loss of homeland and traumatic experiences that were made during the flight were rarely dealt with in the years that followed and were often shrouded in silence.
“What is loved will never vanish” tells of remembering, suppressing and nostalgia, as well as the psychological and neurological influences of memories and trauma.
A transfigured view of the old homeland is juxtaposed with found footage material of the time on various artistic levels. At the same time, texts provide an insight into Johannes’ life before, during and after his expulsion.
“What is loved will never vanished” was part of the group exhibition “Don’t dream it’s over” and was shown in March 2022 in Dortmund, Germany.
