An Exhibition by Samuel Bak in the Jewish Museum

 

The exhibition is called "A Rescued Lithuanian Jewish Child Tells the Story of the Shoa" which offers valuable insights into the life and work of Samuel Bak, as well as the broader story of Jewish history in Lithuania. The exhibition is featured in the Vilinus Gaon Museum of Jewish History and we were again accompanied by Iga Makuténiené. 

The exhibition is a deepl personal and moving. It tells the story of Shoa survivor Samuel Bak, who survived the Vilnius Ghetto as a child. The exhibit also reflects the broader experiences of Jewish children during the Shoa, especially those who were hidden, displaced, or killed. Through documents, family photos, and testimonials, it offers an intimate look at individual survival amid collective tragedy.

The museum also highlights his later work as an artist. His art often depict a broken world mirroring the trauma of destruction and loss with recurring symbols like broken clocks, cracked statues, ruins, and headless figures. Despite the heavy subject matter, his art also expresses resilience. Amid the ruins, there are signs of survival, transformation, and the persistence of human spirit.