framed photo "BREAKTIME" - limited edition of 40 - outside dimensions 16x20 inches, - image approx 10x15 inches
I enjoyed this image because of the anachronistic break provided by the coca-cola and pizza. It's a lighter moment for these folks. It's kind of like seeing your favorite movie star backstage, letting their guard down a bit. This family was genuinely driven to include this (usually absent) voice in a war reenactment - and I simply adored them for it. Nobody assigned them these roles. They simply chose to do it.
To be clear, these are the ONLY reenactors that I ever saw portraying Jewish civilians the entire time I was photographing reenactments.
And they weren't trying to be disrespectful in any way. Instead, they were educating people about the holocaust and their very presence was kind of upsetting to the "status quo" of a WWII reenactment.
Usually reenactments are solely about honoring soldiers, and yes, oddly, soldiers of *both* sides. To a certain extent, reenactments are an advertisement for war. For a person to actually show up wearing that emblem on their clothing, and to be viewed as the terrible consequences of war ,and of the nazi regime, was "not in the script".
They were the only reenactors to highlight the fact that war isn't solely about the heroic acts of soldiers. War is also about horrific cruelty.
Previously unbeknownst to me, I discovered that people reenact WWII as a hobby. This phenomenon fascinated me. It occasionally repulsed me as well. A reenactment is the child of theater married with war. Reenactors strive for a rare, fleeting, and lucky moment that occurs when a person loses themselves inside the very illusion of wartime that they have created. They call this illusion a "reenactor moment" So that's what i called this photo series.
Regardless of whether their passion was expressed admirably or was horribly misguided, I always found it compelling.
If interested, this link is to my director's statement on the documentary film, "Playing Soldier";
http://www.playingsoldierthemovie.com/directors-statement.html
All prints are high-quality, archival prints, and signed by myself, for authenticity. This is a limited edition of 40.
The paper is acid-free, smooth, and archival, meaning it will last longer than I will.
Shipping is included in the price. No need to factor it in.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLK-VKqFKbO/
You can find me on Instagram: @edwingendron
All work copyrighted © by Edwin Gendron. Artist reserves all rights protected under the United States Copyright Act for all artwork or other products purchased. The sale of a given artwork does not include any assignment, transfer, or license to purchaser of the right to reproduce, modify, or create derivative works of any artwork or product, unless such right is expressly granted in writing by the artist.