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Launch Event: Echoes in Ink – December 14, 2025

On the evening of December 14, 2025, marking the beginning of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, the KulturCentrale Dresden became a space for listening, dialogue, and reflection during the launch event of “ECHOES IN INK – The Art of Remembrance”. At the heart of the evening was the artistic engagement of young people with Jewish history, memory culture, and social responsibility.

The launch event not only marked the public presentation of the graphic novels created during the project, but also served as a conscious moment of pause and reflection—at a time when memory culture needs to be rethought and actively shaped. The works presented were developed through intensive workshops, research, and artistic guidance, demonstrating how contemporary memory culture can be: personal, multifaceted, and visually accessible.

Why Remembrance Matters

The event highlighted why projects like ECHOES IN INK are particularly significant today. Memory culture only remains vibrant when diverse perspectives are made visible and heard. The voices of young people, in particular, open new avenues for engaging with historical topics: they connect past, present, and future, bringing personal reflections into the public discourse.

In a time when antisemitism is rising, historical narratives are increasingly forgotten, and discriminatory ideologies are re-emerging, it becomes clear how essential it is not only to preserve history but to actively carry it forward. At the same time, memory culture is fundamentally changing, as fewer survivors can share their own experiences. It is now the responsibility of those who listen, remember, and develop new forms of storytelling.

The graphic novels created in the project vividly demonstrate that remembrance is not an abstract concept but comes alive through individual experiences, creative expression, and ethical engagement. They offer a multifaceted picture of responsibility, human dignity, and civic engagement – a compelling call to be aware of the past, critically reflect on the present, and take responsibility for an inclusive, democratic future. Recent events underscore the painful reality that antisemitism is not a thing of the past but an urgent societal issue.

The Project in Overview: ECHOES IN INK – The Art of Remembrance

ECHOES IN INK is an interdisciplinary arts and education project that offers young people a creative entry point into Jewish history and the engagement with Nazi persecution. The project encourages young people to become researchers, storytellers, and creators themselves.

At its core are researches into Jewish life and memory culture – before, during, and after the Shoah. Through memorial tours, creative workshops, and thematic working sessions, participants developed their own comic narratives. The aim was not merely to document historical facts but to explore questions of responsibility, the continuities of discrimination, and personal ethical stances.

The Graphic Novels in Focus

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the graphic novels. Participants showcased their works and provided insights into their research, storytelling, and artistic processes.

Nazanin Zandi, the workshop leader, also presented her progress on her personal graphic novel, which explores her own family history.

The works presented varied greatly in style and perspective, yet all demonstrated an intense engagement with Jewish biographies, historical ruptures, and the importance of memory culture. The graphic novels explored themes of fear, loss, resistance, and remembrance, showcasing the power of the medium to convey complex historical topics.

In addition to the presentations by the young artists, the event offered space for discussions with artists, historians, and educators. Visitors also had the opportunity to engage directly with the participants, experience the works up close, and discuss their creation and significance. The event highlighted how creative projects empower young people to reflect on complex historical issues, consider multiple perspectives on the past, and take responsibility in the present.

An Evening That Resonates

The ECHOES IN INK launch event was more than a presentation of artistic results. It was an evening that demonstrated the importance of spaces where young voices are heard and memory is actively shaped.

Against the backdrop of rising antisemitic violence, it became clear that remembrance is not merely an exercise in the past but a societal responsibility here and now. ECHOES IN INK shows how this can be realized through art, ethical commitment, and the conviction that remembering entails responsibility.