'Finding Treblinka' Wiener Library, London UK

It has been stated that it may be impossible to bridge the gap between Art and the Holocaust, Ziva Amishai-Maisels highlighted that because art strives for beauty and personal expression it might be incompatible with any form of communication relating to the Holocaust. Now that non-invasive forensics techniques have been used to further understand the Holocaust as part of ‘Finding Treblinka’ conducted by Staffordshire Universities Centre of Archaeology it could be argued that a new role for Art has been created that allows it to develop discourses both with scientific understanding and the socio-political position of the site at Treblinka. ‘Finding Treblinka’ at the Wiener Library acted as a model for enriching the experience of new knowledge by the integration of artworks into a forensic archaeological exhibition, here they became agents in the pursuit of materializing artistic responses to scientific data and the conduit it creates to greater historical knowledge. Crucially the interdisciplinary work presented opportunities for dialogues that provoke change in the way we think about history and its relationship with the present and why it is necessary to reflect on the ambiguity of forensic evidence and material culture in the context of the Holocaust.