Following a renovation of its primary exhibition space, the Wiener Holocaust Library in London will present “Fred Kormis: Sculpting the Twentieth Century.”
A German Jewish artist, Kormis fought in World War I, survived five years of imprisonment in Siberia and later escaped Nazi persecution to build an acclaimed art career in the United Kingdom.
He would become known for creating the Prisoners of War and Concentration Camp Victims Memorial sculpture in London’s Gladstone Park. Kormis also made medallion portraits of notable British leaders, including Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
“Fred Kormis had a real talent for responding to the remarkable things he lived through in the 20th century and memorializing prisoners of war,” senior curator Barbara Warnock said.
In describing the new exhibition area, Warnock explained that “this summer, we’ve completely ripped out and renewed the exhibition space. We’ve basically changed everything about it—all the showcases, the decor, the lighting.”
Founded in 1933 as a bureau to inform Jewish communities and governments worldwide about the persecution of the Jews under the Third Reich and Nazi Germany, the library was transformed into a research institute and public access space after the end of World War II.
The exhibit is scheduled to run from Sept. 20 through Feb. 6, 2025.