CAFETERIA MUSEUM AUSCHWITZ

A COLLABORATIVE MULTIMEDIA VIDEO INSTALLATION BY JULIE DERMANSKY AND GEORG STEINBOECK, 1999

WHEN DERMANSKY AND STEINBOECK DISCOVERED THERE IS A CAFETERIA AT AUSCHWITZ, THEY WERE COMPELLED TO RETURN TO CREATE A WORK THAT CAPTURES THE DARK IRONY IMPLICIT IN DINING THERE. THEY SPENT THREE DAYS FILMING THE CAFETERIA'S PATRONS. THE INSTALLATION EMPLOYS 12 TELEVISIONS SIMULTANEOUSLY PLAYING ALOOP OF 12 INDIVIDUALS EATING.

DIARY ENTRY OF JOHANN PAUL KREMER, CAMP PHYSICIAN SS-OBERSTURMFUEHRER AT KL AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU SEPT.23RD 1942:

THIS NIGHT WAS PRESENT AT THE 6TH AND 7TH SPECIAL ACTIONS. AT 8 O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING SUPPER IN THE HOME WITH OBERGRUPPENFUEHRER POHL, A TRULY FESTIVE MEAL. WE HAD BAKED PIKE, AS MUCH OF IT AS WE WANTED, REAL COFFEE, EXCELLENT BEER AND SANDWICHES.

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ROBERTA SMITH NEW YORK TIMES

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