MEDIA RELEASE: “The idea of an artists’ project to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Islands at the end of WWII developed from a chance meeting of local painter, Rosanne Guille, and the Rev’d Dr. Adrian Datta of St Pierre du Bois Church when swimming last autumn down at Fort Grey.
Adrian coined the exhibition title ‘Exile and Return’ as it echoes and reflects the many narratives he had heard over the last quarter of a century in relation to those who stayed and left the island during the dark days of Nazi occupation.
Adrian says: “The 80th Liberation Day Celebration is hugely significant in the life of the Bailiwick. Sadly, but inevitably, there are fewer and fewer people around who lived through the Occupation years. It is important that their experiences are honoured, remembered and marked in a very special and clear way. The Occupation Arts Collective is doing this through the medium of the visual arts. It will leave a permanent legacy of this occasion.”
“This diverse exhibition will represent 12 distinct responses and interpretations of the experience of exile and return. It will be open for six weeks based at the parish church of St Pierre du Bois and also in the Rectory Fellowship rooms.”
Rosanne says: “Artists are great! They are thinkers, worriers, story tellers and researchers. They illuminate and they bring focus. They make you feel and think things you may not have noticed. Their job is to bring attention to the world around us, whether in relation to beauty, darkness, loss or joy. They also help people make sense of things.”
“In telling the story of the occupation, the artists involved have created an impressive body of work. We have asked them to tap into their family histories, recollections and experiences, along with exploration of local archives. These rich resources have been used to produce a body of work which illuminates our past to ensure that lessons from history are not lost.”
Guernsey Arts which is sponsoring the exhibition says: “This year, Guernsey celebrates 80 years of liberation. The Occupation Arts Collective have put together a sensitive and high-quality project examining the years of hardship and sacrifice leading up to this anniversary. The show engages a mix of well-known local and UK
based, artists whilst bringing the arts to the Western parishes. We are proud to support them and look forward to seeing the exhibition in such a wonderful setting.”
The artists involved are Jenny Aitken, Pierre Datta, Sally Ede-Golightly, Annabel Ede-Golightly, Deborah Grice, Rosanne Guille, Keith Langlois, Olympia McEwan, Fiona Richmond, Adam Stephens, Lou Stephens and Aaron Yeandle.”
INFO ABOUT MY PIECE
“Maybe this is why we were saved. We should never be silent.” by Olympia McEwan 2025 / Charcoal, Liquid charcoal, pastels & collaged papers / 40cm x 60cm.
"I have two very distinct practices. One of portraiture, the other of nature. They are both a reflection of my love for people and their stories, as well as the beauty of the natural world and its fragility".
My portrait is of an extraordinary woman with an extraordinary story. This is Janet de Santos, and she is holding the wedding photo of her mother and father, Elisabet and Harry Duquemin.
Janet’s mother was from a large Jewish community in Vienna and fled Austria in 1937. She came to live in Guernsey and met Janet’s father, Harry, who was from a well known family of growers and exporters in the area. Elisabet and Harry enjoyed married life living at Cobo Post Office, of which Harry was the postmaster and general stores manager.
However, by the summer of 1940, Guernsey ceased to be a safe haven and Elisabet was required to register as a Jew with the Guernsey Police. Her name was passed to the German authorities and she was subsequently required to wear the Star of David in public places, to live under a night time curfew, to not change address at this time and she was only permitted to go shopping between the hours of 3-4pm.
Elisabet, Harry and Janet were given their deportation notices in February 1943. Janet was 18 months old. But thankfully all three survived Laufen, Compiegne and Biberach camps during those long two years. And all returned to their home at Cobo Post Office by Christmas 1945.
A memorial ceremony was held for Elisabet in July 2024, where a Solpersteine Stone was laid outside Cobo Village Centre, her once beloved family home.