ANNE ZAHALKA ‘Hidden Rookwood Sculptures’ at Rookwood Cemetery

September 1, 2024

Anne Zahalka’s ‘May Their Memory be a Blessing’  has been selected alongside 42 other works for Rookwood Cemetery’s annual outdoor sculpture exhibition which will run from 10.09. – 9.10.22. The show is integrated amongst the pathways and gardens in one of the cemetery’s oldest sections as a unique opportunity to engage with the its contemporary relevance and diverse cultural heritage.

Zahalka’s memorial honours families murdered in the Holocaust through the form of handwritten names on granite graves, each listing a family member, their age at death and the place they were murdered (if known). Pebbles are placed on the grace as a Jewish custom used to signal visitation and a sign of respect.

The artist states: “As no graves exist for those who perished, naming our family is an act of remembrance … We confront this past to name those who died, to acknowledge that they lived, loved, mattered. As second and third generations of survivors, we recognise that we carry our parents’ trauma and grief. We also honour them.”

There will be an afternoon public launch event on 10.09.22 which will include a conversation with the exhibition’s curator and judges, an announcement of the Award Recipients, and performances. Read more.

Image caption: Anne Zahalka, 2022, ‘May Their Memory be a Blessing’, handwritten names and pebbles on granite grave