Paul Salmons
@paulsalmons.bsky.social
Specialist in “difficult histories”. Curator & consultant. Exhibits & educational initiatives in Europe, North America, India & Africa.
Projects with Musealia, Claims Conference, US Holocaust Museum, United Nations & UNESCO.
https://paulsalmons.associates/
Projects with Musealia, Claims Conference, US Holocaust Museum, United Nations & UNESCO.
https://paulsalmons.associates/
Original pieces of the Wall that symbolised a divided city, a divided country, a divided Europe, and a divided world.
May 14, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Original pieces of the Wall that symbolised a divided city, a divided country, a divided Europe, and a divided world.
Six concrete slabs, once part of the Wall that encircled West Berlin, separating loved ones, now stand on a Paris street.
In the Cité de l’architecture hundreds of original artefacts and intensely moving personal stories explore the history, significance and legacy of this symbol of the #ColdWar.
In the Cité de l’architecture hundreds of original artefacts and intensely moving personal stories explore the history, significance and legacy of this symbol of the #ColdWar.
May 13, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Six concrete slabs, once part of the Wall that encircled West Berlin, separating loved ones, now stand on a Paris street.
In the Cité de l’architecture hundreds of original artefacts and intensely moving personal stories explore the history, significance and legacy of this symbol of the #ColdWar.
In the Cité de l’architecture hundreds of original artefacts and intensely moving personal stories explore the history, significance and legacy of this symbol of the #ColdWar.
In Paris, at the Trocadero, in view of the Eiffel Tower for the opening of Musealia’s major new travelling exhibition “The Berlin Wall. A World Divided.”
May 13, 2025 at 12:42 PM
In Paris, at the Trocadero, in view of the Eiffel Tower for the opening of Musealia’s major new travelling exhibition “The Berlin Wall. A World Divided.”
"I myself was lying on a heap of dead bodies & beside me was my sister, Lusia. Our mother was there with us but she was no longer alive."
Miriam Weinfeld was 18 yrs old & close to death when the British Army overran the Nazi concentration camp Bergen Belsen, 80 years ago today.
How shd we remember?
Miriam Weinfeld was 18 yrs old & close to death when the British Army overran the Nazi concentration camp Bergen Belsen, 80 years ago today.
How shd we remember?
April 15, 2025 at 6:09 PM
"I myself was lying on a heap of dead bodies & beside me was my sister, Lusia. Our mother was there with us but she was no longer alive."
Miriam Weinfeld was 18 yrs old & close to death when the British Army overran the Nazi concentration camp Bergen Belsen, 80 years ago today.
How shd we remember?
Miriam Weinfeld was 18 yrs old & close to death when the British Army overran the Nazi concentration camp Bergen Belsen, 80 years ago today.
How shd we remember?
Trauma led to 7 years of amnesia. Then, through art, Selinger recovered the memories of his #Holocaust experiences. He recounted them again in Paris when donating two of these remarkable artworks to UNESCO.
Such a privilege to hear him speak.
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Such a privilege to hear him speak.
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January 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Trauma led to 7 years of amnesia. Then, through art, Selinger recovered the memories of his #Holocaust experiences. He recounted them again in Paris when donating two of these remarkable artworks to UNESCO.
Such a privilege to hear him speak.
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Such a privilege to hear him speak.
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"Nature gave me forgetfulness to rebuild myself. Art did the rest." Shelomo Selinger, now 98, survived 9 camps & 2 death marches. In 1945, when Soviet troops entered Theresienstadt, a doctor discovered him still breathing among a pile of corpses.
He was just 15 yrs old.
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He was just 15 yrs old.
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January 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
"Nature gave me forgetfulness to rebuild myself. Art did the rest." Shelomo Selinger, now 98, survived 9 camps & 2 death marches. In 1945, when Soviet troops entered Theresienstadt, a doctor discovered him still breathing among a pile of corpses.
He was just 15 yrs old.
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He was just 15 yrs old.
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Such a poignant day. In Paris for UNESCO commemoration of 80th anniversary of the liberation of #Auschwitz we have the privilege to hear from Ginette Kolinka, who turns 100 yrs old in a few days time. A survivor of Auschwitz & Bergen-Belsen she journeys back 80 yrs into her past to retell her story.
January 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Such a poignant day. In Paris for UNESCO commemoration of 80th anniversary of the liberation of #Auschwitz we have the privilege to hear from Ginette Kolinka, who turns 100 yrs old in a few days time. A survivor of Auschwitz & Bergen-Belsen she journeys back 80 yrs into her past to retell her story.
Representation of women in the #Holocaust
Very important work by Katie Chaka Parks w implications not only for Holocaust museums, but also for the classroom and commemoration.
We need to do better to integrate and make visible these stories in our narratives.
#historyteacher
Very important work by Katie Chaka Parks w implications not only for Holocaust museums, but also for the classroom and commemoration.
We need to do better to integrate and make visible these stories in our narratives.
#historyteacher
January 23, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Representation of women in the #Holocaust
Very important work by Katie Chaka Parks w implications not only for Holocaust museums, but also for the classroom and commemoration.
We need to do better to integrate and make visible these stories in our narratives.
#historyteacher
Very important work by Katie Chaka Parks w implications not only for Holocaust museums, but also for the classroom and commemoration.
We need to do better to integrate and make visible these stories in our narratives.
#historyteacher
Prisoners left in Auschwitz were too weak to walk & would slow the SS retreat. They had to survive 10 days alone before Soviets arrived. Some broke into the SS stores & discovered food supplies including this can of condensed milk. Prisoners self-organized, fed & cared for the sick & clung to life.
January 20, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Prisoners left in Auschwitz were too weak to walk & would slow the SS retreat. They had to survive 10 days alone before Soviets arrived. Some broke into the SS stores & discovered food supplies including this can of condensed milk. Prisoners self-organized, fed & cared for the sick & clung to life.
A challenge for the #historyteacher is how to mark this anniversary without glorifying the liberator?
For most liberation came far too late.
1.3 million people were deported to Auschwitz.
1.1 million were murdered.
How did survivors find the resilience to carry on?
How did they help one another?
For most liberation came far too late.
1.3 million people were deported to Auschwitz.
1.1 million were murdered.
How did survivors find the resilience to carry on?
How did they help one another?
January 20, 2025 at 1:16 PM
A challenge for the #historyteacher is how to mark this anniversary without glorifying the liberator?
For most liberation came far too late.
1.3 million people were deported to Auschwitz.
1.1 million were murdered.
How did survivors find the resilience to carry on?
How did they help one another?
For most liberation came far too late.
1.3 million people were deported to Auschwitz.
1.1 million were murdered.
How did survivors find the resilience to carry on?
How did they help one another?
In a few days the world commemorates 80th anniversary of liberation of #Auschwitz. But when Soviet troops arrived only 7000 inmates still remained alive. The SS evacuated the camp forcing 60,000 prisoners to walk 100s of miles on death marches, killing thousands along the way.
#TeacherEducation
🧵
#TeacherEducation
🧵
January 20, 2025 at 1:16 PM
In a few days the world commemorates 80th anniversary of liberation of #Auschwitz. But when Soviet troops arrived only 7000 inmates still remained alive. The SS evacuated the camp forcing 60,000 prisoners to walk 100s of miles on death marches, killing thousands along the way.
#TeacherEducation
🧵
#TeacherEducation
🧵
Canada’s largest & most comprehensive museum is home to a world-class collection of 18 million artworks, cultural objects & natural history specimens, from around the world & across the ages. That the ROM chose to host our exhibit is testament to the enormous cultural significance of #Auschwitz.
January 9, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Canada’s largest & most comprehensive museum is home to a world-class collection of 18 million artworks, cultural objects & natural history specimens, from around the world & across the ages. That the ROM chose to host our exhibit is testament to the enormous cultural significance of #Auschwitz.
On my way to Toronto for the opening at the Royal Ontario Museum of “Auschwitz. Not long Ago. Not Far Away.” An internationally travelling exhibit produced by Musealia, featuring hundreds of original artefacts.
Excited to bring these incredibly moving & powerful stories to a new audience.
Excited to bring these incredibly moving & powerful stories to a new audience.
January 7, 2025 at 9:12 PM
On my way to Toronto for the opening at the Royal Ontario Museum of “Auschwitz. Not long Ago. Not Far Away.” An internationally travelling exhibit produced by Musealia, featuring hundreds of original artefacts.
Excited to bring these incredibly moving & powerful stories to a new audience.
Excited to bring these incredibly moving & powerful stories to a new audience.
Tens of 1000s died instantly. Many thousands more, including Asayo, had horrendous injuries. Despite suffering burns over her entire body she crossed the devastated city to get home to her two yr old daughter to see if she was safe.
Asayo died the next day.
Her mother's remains were never found.
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Asayo died the next day.
Her mother's remains were never found.
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December 10, 2024 at 8:10 PM
Tens of 1000s died instantly. Many thousands more, including Asayo, had horrendous injuries. Despite suffering burns over her entire body she crossed the devastated city to get home to her two yr old daughter to see if she was safe.
Asayo died the next day.
Her mother's remains were never found.
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Asayo died the next day.
Her mother's remains were never found.
3/3
On the morning of Aug 6 1945, the 23-year-old owner of this blouse, Asayo Tagawa, was working alongside her mother Wakasno, when an atomic bomb detonated 600 meters above their city of Hiroshima.
(Blouse on display in exhibit Berlin Wall: Living in a Divided World) theberlinwall.com/madrid/en/
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(Blouse on display in exhibit Berlin Wall: Living in a Divided World) theberlinwall.com/madrid/en/
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December 10, 2024 at 8:10 PM
On the morning of Aug 6 1945, the 23-year-old owner of this blouse, Asayo Tagawa, was working alongside her mother Wakasno, when an atomic bomb detonated 600 meters above their city of Hiroshima.
(Blouse on display in exhibit Berlin Wall: Living in a Divided World) theberlinwall.com/madrid/en/
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(Blouse on display in exhibit Berlin Wall: Living in a Divided World) theberlinwall.com/madrid/en/
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The shock of the new. What a wonderful curatorial choice for this exhibit on birth of Impressionism to continually contrast paintings from 1874 Salon w those of Monet, Cezanne, Pissarro et al first exhibited in Paris that same year.
No longer a chocolate box cliche but a radical new way of seeing.
No longer a chocolate box cliche but a radical new way of seeing.
December 10, 2024 at 3:16 PM
The shock of the new. What a wonderful curatorial choice for this exhibit on birth of Impressionism to continually contrast paintings from 1874 Salon w those of Monet, Cezanne, Pissarro et al first exhibited in Paris that same year.
No longer a chocolate box cliche but a radical new way of seeing.
No longer a chocolate box cliche but a radical new way of seeing.
Thank you Lily - that makes sense! It’s a detail from a scene connected to the Flood, where Noah sends out a raven. Didn’t expect the text to be so literal - thought there was a deeper meaning. (Maybe that’s why the raven didn’t return - too caught up reading about itself! 🤣) Appreciate your help!
December 10, 2024 at 12:37 PM
Thank you Lily - that makes sense! It’s a detail from a scene connected to the Flood, where Noah sends out a raven. Didn’t expect the text to be so literal - thought there was a deeper meaning. (Maybe that’s why the raven didn’t return - too caught up reading about itself! 🤣) Appreciate your help!
Hello Bluesky
Anyone able to translate this for me, please? (My only language is bad English, I’m afraid, and I’d really like to know what the artist - Lepic - chose to include here.)
Anyone able to translate this for me, please? (My only language is bad English, I’m afraid, and I’d really like to know what the artist - Lepic - chose to include here.)
December 9, 2024 at 9:12 PM
Hello Bluesky
Anyone able to translate this for me, please? (My only language is bad English, I’m afraid, and I’d really like to know what the artist - Lepic - chose to include here.)
Anyone able to translate this for me, please? (My only language is bad English, I’m afraid, and I’d really like to know what the artist - Lepic - chose to include here.)
The only Da Vinci in the Americas. I’ve never stood in front of Mona Lisa (I know, right?!) so unsure how I’d feel, “knowing” it too well, having so many expectations & preconceptions.
This however, was wonderful, a portrait I didn’t know before so everything was new and fresh.
Stunning, isn’t it? x
This however, was wonderful, a portrait I didn’t know before so everything was new and fresh.
Stunning, isn’t it? x
December 9, 2024 at 8:55 PM
The only Da Vinci in the Americas. I’ve never stood in front of Mona Lisa (I know, right?!) so unsure how I’d feel, “knowing” it too well, having so many expectations & preconceptions.
This however, was wonderful, a portrait I didn’t know before so everything was new and fresh.
Stunning, isn’t it? x
This however, was wonderful, a portrait I didn’t know before so everything was new and fresh.
Stunning, isn’t it? x
What an absolutely exceptional example of how to write #museum captions well.
Lucid & eloquent, it begins with a question & draws our attention to small details helping to interpret the whole. Adds colour & nuance, highlights a legacy painter &subject wd prefer were overlooked, complicates thinking.
Lucid & eloquent, it begins with a question & draws our attention to small details helping to interpret the whole. Adds colour & nuance, highlights a legacy painter &subject wd prefer were overlooked, complicates thinking.
December 9, 2024 at 4:46 PM
What an absolutely exceptional example of how to write #museum captions well.
Lucid & eloquent, it begins with a question & draws our attention to small details helping to interpret the whole. Adds colour & nuance, highlights a legacy painter &subject wd prefer were overlooked, complicates thinking.
Lucid & eloquent, it begins with a question & draws our attention to small details helping to interpret the whole. Adds colour & nuance, highlights a legacy painter &subject wd prefer were overlooked, complicates thinking.
One of the most heartbreaking #museum displays I’ve seen. Fragments of stained glass from 16th St Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama appear to float in the air.
1963 a KKK bomb murdered 4 young girls, blinded &injured many more. A moment of horror still felt today.
African American Museum, DC
1963 a KKK bomb murdered 4 young girls, blinded &injured many more. A moment of horror still felt today.
African American Museum, DC
December 9, 2024 at 4:07 PM
One of the most heartbreaking #museum displays I’ve seen. Fragments of stained glass from 16th St Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama appear to float in the air.
1963 a KKK bomb murdered 4 young girls, blinded &injured many more. A moment of horror still felt today.
African American Museum, DC
1963 a KKK bomb murdered 4 young girls, blinded &injured many more. A moment of horror still felt today.
African American Museum, DC
Back in Washington DC for a meeting of the Education Committee of the US Holocaust Museum, part of the museum’s governing board. A privilege to serve on this body, and a great opportunity to learn more about the Museum’s important work.
December 9, 2024 at 2:07 AM
Back in Washington DC for a meeting of the Education Committee of the US Holocaust Museum, part of the museum’s governing board. A privilege to serve on this body, and a great opportunity to learn more about the Museum’s important work.
Across the road from the #Auschwitz memorial & museum is a pizza restaurant. Some visitors are shocked that locals will eat fast food so close to a site of mass murder. But why should the burden of memory fall hardest on those living nearby? How far does the shadow of Auschwitz fall?
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December 3, 2024 at 10:35 AM
Across the road from the #Auschwitz memorial & museum is a pizza restaurant. Some visitors are shocked that locals will eat fast food so close to a site of mass murder. But why should the burden of memory fall hardest on those living nearby? How far does the shadow of Auschwitz fall?
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Day30 of #Museum30 is Why Museums?
These objects are the last fragments of the lives of a murdered people. Cups & cooking utensils, perfume bottles, cheese graters & shaving brushes. All that is left of whole lives, families, communities.
Museums are what we owe to the past. shorturl.at/CWwgo
These objects are the last fragments of the lives of a murdered people. Cups & cooking utensils, perfume bottles, cheese graters & shaving brushes. All that is left of whole lives, families, communities.
Museums are what we owe to the past. shorturl.at/CWwgo
December 1, 2024 at 10:32 AM
Day30 of #Museum30 is Why Museums?
These objects are the last fragments of the lives of a murdered people. Cups & cooking utensils, perfume bottles, cheese graters & shaving brushes. All that is left of whole lives, families, communities.
Museums are what we owe to the past. shorturl.at/CWwgo
These objects are the last fragments of the lives of a murdered people. Cups & cooking utensils, perfume bottles, cheese graters & shaving brushes. All that is left of whole lives, families, communities.
Museums are what we owe to the past. shorturl.at/CWwgo
