Itzchak Tarkay is a contemporary artist, who is well known for his vibrant choice of colours, and the significances behind his pictures. My future-mother-in-law, Donna, introduced me to Tarkay’s art. During one of her cruises, she attend the Park West art collection and was fascinated with the story of Tarkay’s life and the inspiration that influenced his artistic design.
When Tarkay was nine, he and “his family were sent to the Mathausen Concentration Camp, until Allied liberation freed them a year later” (Knottywood Treasures). What I found most intriguing about his art, is the fact that most the of women in his pictures have vibrant blue eye shadow, and are sitting with a group of women having tea. Donna mentioned that Tarkay’s paintings are also a representation of his mother and her envision of having tea with her friends while they were in the concentration camp. “It is said that Tarkay always paints his women with their eyes cast down as his way of honoring those who did not survive the Nazi camps” (Bestjonbon).
I think it would a really good idea for when teaching students about the concentration camp, to integrate Tarkay’s art. I know for myself, I had a very difficult time learning about the concentration camps, and watching those horrific live image clips. Although, it was a sensitive topic, I would have loved have an after activity, such as, viewing Tarkay’s art, as a closure activity. If your interested in seeing more of Tarkay’s art, please view the You Tube clip in my resources.
Resources
Knottywood Treasures. Itzchak Tarkay.
http://www.knottywood-treasures.com/id55.html
Bestjonbon. Is One of My Favourite Jewish Artist.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=kkyrDk3hIL0
