Apthorp Gallery

Vardi Kahana- One Family

Thursday 15th January 2009 - Sunday 15th March 2009 12.00PM- 4.00PM

The exhibition is open 12PM - 8PM on selected performance evenings.

“This is the story of one family. It is the entire Jewish-Israeli narrative embodied in a single family. This is my family. To the big questions of Jewish- Israeli identity the photographs of my family provide a kaleidoscope of answers”
Vardi Kahana

The exhibition begins with a photograph of Vardi Kahana’s mother and two aunts. The image captures the consecutive serial numbers tattooed on their left arms, denoting the order in which they lined up in Auschwitz. The sisters survived the Second World War and their strong family ties led them to set up new homes close to each other in Israel.

Today their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are spread across the country and overseas.

From ultra-orthodox Judaism to atheist Communism, Kahana has documented the deep contrasts that now exist between these four generations. One Family not only tells the Jewish-Israeli narrative but reflects the universal question of what ‘family’ means and how it functions in society today.

Click here for details about the related talk called One Family Uncorked.