The Holocaust History behind "Aftershocks: Nolan and the Holocaust"

Join us for a conversation between author and journalist Rachelle Unreich and MHM's Dr Simon Holloway as they delve into the Holocaust history behind our current special exhibition Aftershocks: Nolan and the Holocaust.

Within this powerful exhibition there are multiple layers of history including the trial of Adolf Eichman and the camps Nolan has depicted, Ravensbrück and Auschwitz, in his haunting imagery. Focusing on these historical elements as well as Rachelle's mother's story of survival in Ravensbrück and Auschwitz, This evening will deepen our understanding of Nolan's works.

About the panelists:

Rachelle Unreich has been a journalist for 37 years, including seven years in the United States where she wrote about the entertainment industry. Her work has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Financial Review, Elle, Rolling Stone, Good Weekend, and she has been extensively published in the US, the UK, and Southeast Asia.

A Brilliant Life, the powerful true story of her mother Mira, a Holocaust survivor, is her first book.

Dr Simon Holloway PhD, Classical Hebrew and Biblical Studies: MA; Ancient History

Simon has a passion for Holocaust education and believes strongly in helping to preserve the legacy of our survivors. In his role he creates and oversees programs to enhance broader community understanding of the Holocaust and its lessons.

For six years, Simon served as a sessional lecturer at the University of Sydney, and as an Education Officer at the Sydney Jewish Museum. Simon has developed and taught programs relating to Nazi racial science, Jewish resistance and the history of the Holocaust. Simon’s research interests concern the identification of references to the biblical and rabbinic literature in documents produced during the war.


Exhibition produced by: 

Research and Curation: Katharine Cousins with grateful assistance from Roslyn Sugarman, Emeritus Professor Konrad Kwiet & Professor Avril Alba.

This exhibition was made possible with sincere appreciation to our partners:

• Education Heritage Foundation Ltd 

• Richard and Jacqui Scheinberg

With additional thanks to our Sydney Jewish Museum donors and lenders:

• The Estate of Mary Nolan

• Neil and Kathy Miller

• Sharon Milch

• David and Jenny Goldstein

• Roland and Linda Gumbert

This exhibition follows the Museum’s 2022 exhibition ‘Shaken to His Core: The Untold Story of Nolan’s Auschwitz’, produced in collaboration with 'Nolan’s Africa' author, Andrew Turley. After its success in Sydney and with the acquisition of some 65 artworks from Nolan’s Holocaust series, the Sydney Jewish Museum is proud to present this exhibition featuring new insights and research into our Sidney Nolan Holocaust collection.

Image | Australian artist Sidney Nolan, taken by Albert Tucker. National Library of Victoria.

Please note this event may be recorded for our institutional archive.