THE
HOLOCAUST SERIES
I
was born in 1943 at the same time that thousands of European
Jewish souls were being released into the skies in Nazi
concentration camps, their ashes scattered by the winds
encircling the world. Maybe some small element of all those
souls penetrated my conscience with my first breath giving me
the directive that I should be a witness after their generation
is no more. The Holocaust was committed under the cloak of
silence, and will be forgotten if covered by the same cloak.
Victims must have memories, but only when those that were not
victims remember, will the eternal flame keep warm the hearts of
the generations to come. And so, I dedicate a portion of my art
to the memory of a people and their suffering in the hope that
my voice, as uncomfortable as it may be, joins the efforts of
others to maintain this flame alive. -Saul Balagura- |
HOW LONG A WAIT
Today I feel better
|
How Long a Wait
Watercolor/Ink
on Paper 18 x 24
inches 1992
|
HAVE YOU SEEN MY BROTHER ?
The gray darkness of a midday Sun
|
Have You Seen My Brother Acrylic on Canvas 38 x 48 inches 1997 |
THE BRACE
A child stands |
Oh yes, there was
also a smell, her own personal smell a mixture of her mother’s care, her sweat and that brace that allowed her to carry her head straight. And then, one day, Frimale was not there waiting by the swing amidst the trees and the birds. She was the first person of my age that I knew dead. Buchenwald had claimed finally the body of a child that had escaped from its wire cage to find a friend in a child that for some time could not explain that smile on the face that came from a brace that held upwards her twisted chest. |
The Brace Oil on Canvas 20 x 16 inches 1996 |
The Cap
I keep searching in vain
|
The Cap Acrylic on Canvas 48 x 38 inches 2000 |
TWO CHILDREN
Keeping company during
|
Two Children Watercolor on Paper 23 x 18 inches 1992 |
Go Away [Kindertransport] Let my hand push you away my child my horizon that no man shall hurt the tender flesh from my soul do not look at me like that for one day many years remote you shall understand how hard it was to tear my dreams for ever more Go go as far as the wind will carry you as far away from the stench of the war that cuts without pity parents from children with the ease of a whistle blown amidst a soil softened by a wall of tears Fly with the wind let the softness of your hair melt down barriers and turn cold hearts into melting love May God cut the hand that pushed you so far and may God bless that same hand for having pushed you on that afternoon so long ago You don't remember any more not even when you stand upon a hilltop letting the breeze caress you like once I use to do.
|
Go Away
Oil on Canvas 60 x 48 inches 2004
|
After
Rain pounding on the window panels
Pain rushing through my veins
But these are all memories
|
After
Oil
on Canvas 48 x 38 inches
2004 |
THE WAIT
|
New Painting
Acrylic
on Canvas 30 x 22 inches
2000 |
In 1960 I began to work with the concept of "girl" as a symbol of our society and started "The Girl Series". The series depicts how the artist perceives the manner in which society looks at women. Society’s weaknesses are reflected in my girls. Each painting constitutes a psychological or sociological observation on a particular topic. The titles given to the paintings are not superfluous, rather, they provide additional cues for the comprehension of the paintings. -Saul Balagura- |
Girl With Gucci Bag
Oil on Canvas
24 x 20 inches 2004 |
|
Girl
with Red Hat and No Shoe
Oil
on Canvas 33 x 24 inches 1962
|
Girl:
The Widow
Acrylic
on Canvas 48 x 38 inches 2000
|
Girl:
Madame Ex
Acrylic
on Canvas 60 x 30 inches
2001
|
Girl:
Conversing With Elisa
Oil
on Canvas 48 x 38 inches
2003
|
HELEN’S PASSPORT PHOTO Surprised by the instant of light that pierced your eyes in search of your soul, now frozen in time for others to watch as you in vain go wondering in search of a golden dream that can never be reached, your image to become invalid should any attempt be made to retouch it so that it may be more akin to you. |
Girl:
Helens's Passport Photo
Oil on Canvas 24 x 20 inches 2004 |
PORTRAIT OF MRS. FRONT Good morning Mrs. Front I came to give you this package,
Have not seen you for ages What are you looking at Mrs. Front?
What are you hiding behind?
|
Portrait
of Mrs. Front
Oil on Canvas
40 x 30 inches 2004 |
PRETTY GIRL WITH UGLY DOLL Oh! What a beautiful girl she is During days as long as lifetimes And of all her toys and dolls
|
PRETTY GIRL WITH UGLY DOLL
Acrylic on Canvas
40 x 30 inches 1998 |