With the support of the Uniting Foundation, a groundbreaking permanent exhibition, “The Great Void. The Holocaust in Liepāja,” has been unveiled at the Liepāja Occupation Museum. Opened on 28 January 2025, just a day after International Holocaust Remembrance Day, this powerful exhibition, gifted to Liepāja by the Uniting Foundation, sheds light on one of the darkest chapters in the city's history. The exhibition's visual design was brought to life by the design studio H2E.
The Holocaust was a systematic and targeted genocide that led to the near-total annihilation of Liepāja's Jewish community. Of the approximately 5,500 Jews who lived in the city before World War II, only 25 survived. Across Europe, six million Jews, including one million children, were murdered. As Dace Kārkla, Director of the Liepāja Museum, emphasized at the exhibition's opening, the museum lacked a dedicated space to tell this critical part of Liepāja’s history. The Great Void fills that gap, ensuring that future generations understand the tragic fate of Liepāja and its people during World War II.
Jewish culture and social life have long been integral to Liepāja's identity. Recognizing this, Uniting Foundation Executive Director Elīna Škļara stated: “To truly understand the city’s history, we must acknowledge the Holocaust as a defining part of its past. Only by confronting the consequences of hatred and intolerance can we foster a more inclusive and compassionate society. Our Foundation has spent years researching the Holocaust in Liepāja, striving to tell this story not as an isolated historical event, but as a tragedy that forever altered this city, leaving permanent scars that we still today. We are proud to have worked alongside the Liepāja Museum and the award-winning H2E design studio to create a modern and thought-provoking exhibition.”
The exhibition unfolds like a spatial Narrative in three parts. It starts with Life Before the War – A photographic chronicle of pre-war Jewish life in Liepāja, depicting its thriving cultural, economic, and educational contributions, with smiling families looking at us from old photographs. Then, the Great Void comes – A harrowing portrayal of destruction, centered around historical footage of the 1941 mass shootings in the dunes of Škēde near Liepāja. Powerful visuals and first-hand testimonies lay bare the horrors of occupation, persecution, and extermination, making it impossible to pass by this space. Finally, Acts of Courage – An interactive hideout space dedicated to those who risked everything to rescue Jewish people, emphasizing resilience and humanity in the face of atrocity.
Ingūna Elere, founder and lead designer of H2E, reflected on the exhibition's approach: “We have shaped this space as a deeply emotional novella—a drama of humanity in three acts. The limits of human nature remain relevant today, and we hope that The Great Void will inspire reflection and understanding, fostering a more empathetic and inclusive future”.
The content of the exhibition was developed by the Liepāja Museum team, in collaboration with leading historians and researchers, including Iļja Ļenskis (Museum “Jews in Latvia”), Dr. hist. Jānis Šiliņš (Latvian National Archives, “Latvian State Historical Archives”), Maija Meiere-Oša (Žanis Lipke Memorial), and Normunds Rudēvics (Roma Cultural Centre). The dramaturgy was crafted by director Lauris Gundars. The exhibition is supported by the Uniting Foundation and the Latvian Jewish Community Restitution Fund.
Exhibition “The Great Void. The Holocaust in Liepāja” is now open to the public at the Liepāja Occupation Museum, located at 7/9 Klāva Ukstiņa Street in Liepāja. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00.
For more information, visit: www.okupacija.liepajasmuzejs.lv
About the Uniting Foundation
Founded in 2019, the Uniting Foundation is committed to fostering a united, equal, and culturally rich Latvian society. Its projects focus on preserving historical heritage, enhancing cultural life, and reducing social inequality. Collaborations include the Žanis Lipke Memorial, Kim? Contemporary Art Centre, the University of Latvia’s Centre for Judaic Studies, “HospissLV”, Liepāja Theatre, the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, RTU Liepāja, Great Amber Concert Hall, along with independent researchers, writers, and artists, contributing to research, publishing historically significant books, and curating exhibitions and permanent displays.
Learn more at: https://uniting.lv/en/
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