An exhibition that aspires to spread the history of a place as cruelly unique as Auschwitz | Picture: Auschwitz: Not long ago. Not far away
The 2,500 square meters of Arte Canal allow a versatile launching of such an
impressive project. More than 25 different areas are part of the exhibition,
for which it is recommended to spend between two and three hours on a
standard visit. The 25 areas are divided into 4 different storylines: The
encounter, Before Auschwitz, Auschwitz, and After of Auschwitz; a structure
that allows the visitor to face a journey taking into account all those details
needed to globally understand the Holocaust or Shoah.
The museum strategy designs an impressive, well-documented and
illustrated exhibition which offers both rigour and emotion with the aim to
engage the visitor’s empathy. Perhaps, the audio guide is the best way to
capture this connection with the visitor and, at the same time, reinforce the
relationship between rigour and emotion. In addition to the sound added
to the 10 videos shown and the voice of several survivors of the Holocaust
that can be heard, the narrative proposed by this classic interpretative tool
makes it possible for this exhibition to go beyond its informative reach. In
“Auschwitz: Not long ago. Not far away” is not enough to be reliable at
a historical and set design level, since the ultimate goal is to also engage
the visitors with their deepest feelings. Thus, beyond any historical
consideration, the audio guide includes constant references to the stories and
memories that are hidden behind each exhibit: a shoe, glasses, a notebook,
etc. All of them are no longer inert pieces but imaginary windows that take us
back to the tragic reality of the Holocaust.
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