Public discussion on a Holocaust memorial site

events Programme

The public discussion on a Holocaust memorial site in Budapest was an event combining visits to monuments, the presentation of a theatrical work, and an open discussion with audience participation. The program began at the memorial dedicated to the victims of forced labor service and at the monument commemorating Vilma Bernovits, located on the banks of the Danube. An introduction to the historical context and the significance of these sites was provided by a cultural researcher, who invited participants to reflect on the local dimension of Holocaust memory and its relationship with artistic practices.

The next part of the event took place at the Trafó House of Contemporary Arts and included a presentation of a work in progress of the documentary performance Living the Dream with Grandma II The Lunch, created through the collaboration of Éva Katona and László Göndör. The work was based on personal stories of survival and on the transmission of the intellectual and ethical legacy of a Holocaust survivor, using archival documents, a recorded conversation, and elements of concert theatre within an immersive sound environment.

Following the presentation, a reflection circle was held, during which the audience could share their impressions and questions with the creators. The event was addressed to people working in the fields of heritage, education, culture, and civil society, as well as to all those interested in Holocaust memory. Its aim was to deepen dialogue, encourage critical reflection on forms of commemoration, and strengthen international discussion on difficult heritage.

📸 Máté Kalicz and Andrea Ausztrics