AHEAD of Holocaust Memorial Day a Barry exhibition on returing home, and a Penarth one on fleeing home, will be on display.

Thursday, January 27 will mark the 77th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, with the day honouring the millions of victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.

This year’s theme is one day – Art Gallery Central in Barry will host an exhibition by Polish photographer Michal Iwanowski, while Penarth Pavilion will host a gallery by conflict and war artist Nicola Tucker.

Michal Iwanowski’s exhibition

After seeing a piece of graffiti on a wall in Cardiff that said ‘Go Home Polish’ Mr Iwanowski decided to take a journey from his home in Wales to his birth home in Poland.

Taking ‘one day’ at a time, he walked for 105 days and crossed 1,200 miles before reaching his family home in Poland.

His exhibition, displayed at Barry’s Art Central Gallery, records his journey and the people he met along the way. It highlights the complexity of human behaviour and emotions such as tolerance and acceptance.

It explores the topics of conflict, forced migration and displacement. His exhibition is on display now and will run at the venue until Saturday, February 12.

Find out more about his exhibition at https://bit.ly/3nAuf1Y

Nicola Tucker’s exhibition

Nicola Tucker’s ‘Shtetl’ will be displayed at Penarth Pavilion from Monday, January 24.

Shtetl is a Yiddish word meaning ‘little town’ and refers to home. Her work reflects the immediacy of fleeing from home – a situation which often leaves people left with very little, or nothing, with them abandoning their home and lives to escape war, genocide, and other chaotic situations.

Statement of commitment

Deputy leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Cllr Lis Burnett, will make the statement of commitment on January 27, recognising the long-standing effects of the Holocaust and the importance in remembering the event and those who were, and continue to be affected by it. It also pledges to fight against discrimination of all kinds.