Background to the project: I make videos and paintings which explore microcosm and macrocosm, comparing the small and the monumental; these are predominently journeys revealing my relationship with the environment in which I work: the Corbières mountains in the foothills of the French Pyrenees bordering Spain. I am currently exploring my Jewish roots through the recreation of the ‘sense of place’ of a ruined WWII detention camp situated near to my home. A great number of Jews were transported from Camp Joffre in Rivesaltes to Auschwitz; 3,000 also met their death there through starvation and disease. It also served as a camp for those displaced during the Spanish Civil War and later as a prison for refugees on the losing side of the conflict. After WWII it was used as a prisoner of war camp for German POWs. Later it was a camp for the Harkis (Algerians who fought for the French in the Algerian War of Independance). Today, once again, the camp (albeit a small part) is used as a detention centre, refugees without the relevant visas are temporarily held in makeshift metal cabins to be deported. Camp Joffre has always been a place to imprison those considered "undesirable" by society. The work: My videos and paintings which explore journeys, ‘sense of place’ and the beauty of a natural world have now become an exploration into my own heritage: two worlds have collided. The videos and paintings, entitled ‘Rivesaltes Shoah’, explore a beautiful landscape which belies its history. The sound of footsteps has been distorted to evoke the sense of foreboding of this place. The work represents a personal journey which reflects greater issues.
		For more information, please contact the artist.
					Rivesaltes (Shoah) 10, 2007 Running time: 56 seconds
					Rivesaltes (Shoah) 11, 2007 Running time: 2 mins 41
					Excerpt from Rivesaltes (Shoah) 12, 2007 Running time: 1 min 06 (Full film: 4 mins 26)
	There will be a screening of these videos in the camp itself, organised by the Conseil Général des Pyrénées-Orientales in the Spring or Summer of 2008. For more information please contact the artist. For the Camp website, click here. For paintings in the Rivesaltes (Shoah) series, click here (work-in-progress)
		painting • print-making • videos • exhibitions • studio Jonathan Moss: jonathan@atelierstlouis.com