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“The Rescuers: Picturing Moral Courage” is based on the work of Leora Kahn, who researched and interviewed
rescuers from theHolocaust and other genocides. Each person’s image and testimony that visitors encounter in this
exceptional photographicexhibition reflect “ordinary” citizens, who, by choosing to rescue the “other,” becameheroes
in a timewhen their countrywas committing acts of genocide. They came fromdifferent countries anddifferent times,
and formany, this is the first time they have told their stories— some risking their lives again in the telling.
Approximately6millionJewsperished in theHolocaustandat least200,000Romaweremurderedby theNazisand their
collaborators. InCambodia, approximately 1.7millionpeopleweremurderedby thePol Pot regime. InBosnia, at least
200,000peopleweremurderedandmore than20,000womenandgirls rapedduring thegenocide.
More than2millionpeopleweredisplaced,mostlyBosnianMuslims. InRwanda, 800,000
people, mostly ethnic Tutsis andmoderateHutus, murdered, primarilywithmachetes.
Kahn is founderandexecutivedirectorofPROOF:Media forSocial Justice.Sheworks
on global projects, partnering with organizations such as Amnesty International and
theUnitedNations.Her 2007book “Darfur: 20YearsofWar andGenocide inSudan”
is an award-winning effort, andHolocaust MuseumHouston’s exhibition of thiswork
traveled throughout theUnitedStates. Kahn’s last book, “ChildSoldiers,” travelswith
an exhibit she curated in collaborationwith theU.N.’sOffice onChildren andArmed
Conflict. Kahn works with theGenocide Studies Program at Yale University, where
she conducts research on rescuing behavior. She teaches on topics in human
rights andphotography.
Kahn worked with four different photographers as she conducted
research and curated this exhibition: RiccardoGangale (Rwanda),
Nicolas Axelrod (Cambodia), Paul Lowe (Bosnia) and Sonia
Folkmann (Europe/theHolocaust).
Kahn said the exhibit is designed to raise awareness for the
need to stand up to the injustices that are still happening
around the world and to contribute to the understanding
of peace.
Gangale, born in Rome, has spent years traveling
throughout Africa working on projects. He now
works with the Associated Press and lives in Kigali,
Rwanda, publishing works in The New York Times,
TimesMagazine, TheWashingtonPost and others.
Axelrod, based in South East Asia, works as a
freelance photographer. His work is found in
various nongovernmental organizations, local
and international magazines and private
clients in his region.
Lowe is a senior photography lecturer
at the University of the Arts, London.
He covers breaking news all over
the world and captures it through
photography; healsoshareshispassion
of photojournalismwith his students.
