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RESPECTacles: Liverpool remembers victims of the Holocaust

By Lisa Spurgin ⋅ February 4, 2008 ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

For many of us they’re simply a necessity, in a lot of instances an annoyance or just a fashion accessory. But thousands of pairs of glasses have been used to astounding effect in an artistic display presented in Liverpool Town Hall. The RESPECTacles exhibition has been regarded by many as the centrepiece of cultural events leading up to National Holocaust Memorial Day, which took place on January 27th. Second hand spectacles donated by the public and celebrities alike were used to symbolise the remainders left by millions of Holocaust victims. The unique nature of the project links closely with the message of this year’s commemoration – ‘Imagine…Remember, Reflect, React’ – while remaining a breathtaking piece of art in its own right. “The Holocaust is a barrier to many people; they tend to want to shut off from it. The exhibition was not intended to depress but to instead show hope,” said Jean Evans, project director of RESPECTacles. In its week-long showing, the exhibition proved a huge success, capturing the imagination of countless visitors. “It’s been overwhelming; I couldn’t have predicted the need for it. The message has stirred so much interest from people.”

It’s fair to say that an artistic arrangement of glasses is not the first thing that would spring to mind when considering the Holocaust but as Jean points out, the use of such an everyday object calls to people’s humanity in a greater way. “The image of millions of discarded glasses stood out to me personally as a spectacle wearer. People were so disadvantaged; they had no opportunity to fight back. The simple act of removing someone’s glasses also removed their power. Glasses are important as a symbol as they represent vision for the future. Also, people tend to think of artefacts from the past as distant but glasses are just as identifiable in today’s society.” Jean also noted how the creative nature of the exhibition has made people think of the commemoration of events differently. “The beauty of it is in direct opposition to the tragedy that was caused. I think there’s something very spiritual about it all.”

Despite having no formal artistic qualifications, Jean was determined to spread the message of Holocaust remembrance in a visionary manner. Having been inspired by the hallmark image, she set about arranging the RESPECTacles exhibition. Guidance for the project came from Naomi Kingston, who provided information about the number of Jewish victims and ways in which people were labelled. Although based upon the notorious concentration camps, the exhibition was intended to reflect the 11 million Jews who lost their lives not only in the Holocaust but in other atrocities. Mirrors were used in the exhibition in order to reflect the relevant numbers of victims.

National Holocaust Memorial Day 2008 centres on the theme ‘Imagine…Remember, Reflect, React’. Jean explained how RESPECTacles can be seen to fulfil each part of the intended message. “It’s about imagining what it was like as an individual being involved and also doing that by remembering. I think remembrance is something very cathartic for people. Reflecting is demonstrated by the labels people put on the glasses, referring not just to the Holocaust but to relatives who’ve died. I couldn’t read most of them as they were too sad. The Holocaust dehumanised its victims and the fact it occurred meant that it must have had support from ordinary people. Now people can react by showing respect for them, which is vital for preventing future tragedies.”

Young people have been the focus of this year’s memorial events and the RESPECTacles project has proved to have got through the youth of Liverpool, despite its short stay at the Town Hall. “We would have liked the chance for more school children to see it but there were time constraints. However, there was lots of feedback from young people.” Indeed, the exhibition has touched those of all ages – with surprising effects. “In one day, we had 320,000 visitors. Some people came three times. They’d want to find their own glasses in the exhibition. A lot of people actually wept when they saw it – the emotional impact has been overwhelming.” In fact the exhibition had such an impact that many wanted it to stick around for longer, with a petition being set up to prevent it from leaving Liverpool.

And it’s not just the public who ensured spectacles came flooding in – the project has received the support of a range of high-profile celebs, many who donated glasses of their own. “I really didn’t expect to receive glasses from a lot of the celebrities, especially people like Elton John and Bono. The first celebrity pair we got came from Yoko Ono who was an inspiration – she also donated a £10,000 cheque.”

Having been so popular, RESPECTacles seems destined for bigger things. There’s talk of it touring the nation and perhaps even being placed in a museum in Jerusalem. It is also in line to break the Guinness World Record for the most glasses used in a linked display. Record breaking attempts aside, the exhibition is something to behold – both in a physical and emotional sense, showing that seeing is believing – and understanding.