Ceija Stojka-a survivor from the concentration camps

I did not know anything about the roma artist and author Ceija Stojka until I visited her exhibition in Malmö Konsthall. I was highly impressed by her colors and unique style. Ceija’s pure, kind of childish and simple way of expressing her emotions showed perfection and clearness of her art. It made the visitors of the exhibition dive deeply into her paintings and go through the dark years side by side with the artist.

Ceija Stojka painted her own biography.

During the Second World War the roma people had the same destiny as the jews. They were put into the concentration camps, tortured and they starved to death.

After the deportation of her father Ceija and the rest of her family were deported to Auschwitz. Shortly before the war was over they were replaced to Bergen-Belsen, which was as horrible as Auschwitz. They had nothing to eat and the hunger was so severe that they ate leather belts and grass.

The first pictures of the exhibition were colorful and bright and the aim of the artist was to show the beautiful life she had before the deportation. Gradually the colors of the paintings got darker and as I continued looking at them and analyzing them in my mind I had the feeling of being in a camp myself. I had goosebumps, I felt how the room was getting dark and the ways were getting narrow.

This was the power of great Art of Ceija Stojka, who survived Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen and Ravensbrück, the most brutal concentration camps of the Nazi time.

If the world doesn’t change now – if the world doesn’t open its doors and windows – if it doesn’t build peace – real peace – so that my great-great-grandchildren have a chance of living in this world, then I’m incapable of explaining why I survived Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen and Ravensbrück. (quote by Ceija Stojka)

/source – https://www.konsthall.malmo.se/en/utstallning/ceija-stojka/

“I’m afraid that Europe is forgetting its past, and that Auschwitz is only sleeping.” (quote by Ceija Stojka)

/source- https://www.konsthall.malmo.se/en/utstallning/ceija-stojka//