CONVERSATIONS WITH ANGELS:
AN INSTALLATION FOR MAJDANEK

SUMMER 2003

BY ANN MCCOY

DEDICATED TO THE WOMEN
OF BARRACK 9

Majdanek, a former Nazi concentration camp near Lublin in Poland where 235 thousand perished, is for me a place where one encounters incomprehensible darkness. As an artist I try to be a light bringer. All of my work over a thirty year period has been involved with the idea of reconciliation, and spiritual transformation I felt drawn to Majdanek because of a small shrine on the site started by German and Jewish youth, where one can pray and think about forgiveness. It was as if the visitors are given an opportunity to not only think about the site, but to somehow shift and transform the darkness found there into something more positive for themselves and others.

Leo Tolstoy wrote a book on the practice of nonviolence, and corresponded with Gandhi who read his book. The Jains of Indian also influenced Gandhi. Gandhi took much of his message of nonviolence from the Jain philosophy of Ahinsa. The Jains practice nonviolence (Ahinsa), and Anakantavada, respect for the multiple truths found in different views. In our world torn apart by violence and sectarianism, these two values of tolerance for other views, and reverence for life appeal to me. Majdanek is certainly a site which has known some of the worst violence against the human spirit, and lack of tolerance for a religion, a people, and a culture.

Each morning in puja, Jains ask to be forgiven for all they have done and in return to forgive others. The Jain prayer is, ÒMay I forgive all souls and have them forgive me.Ó For me Majadanek represents the heart of darkness, a place where all of us could meditate on how to be forgiven for our acts of violence in word and deed. So much of modern culture seems programed for violence. A second part of morning puja involves holding a mirror to reflect images of the divine (transcendent Self) into the heart center. The practice presents a way of bringing the divine and forgiveness in our own hearts. For me this practice is beautifully described in a book by three Jewish girls who died in the camps.

Talking with Angels is a book which transcribes the conversations with angels (agents of the divine) experienced by four girls in
Hungary between 1943 and 1944. Three of the girls perished in the concentration camps, and the only survivor published the book in 1953. I was very moved by one of the passages and its relationship to the Jain mirror (puja) practice.

ÒListen carefully! there is a wonderful mirror in you.

A MIRROR THAT REVEALS ALL!
IT DWELLS INSIDE OF YOU
AND REFLECTS THE DIVINE.
BUT ONLY IN SILENCE.

If a tiny mosquito alights on its surface, the mirror is clouded.
If the mirror is not clear, you can not create.
Focus all of your attention on it.
Heaven does not hide before the wonderful mirror.Ó

My idea is to have each viewer meditate on an image and reflect it into their heart center. For me the clouding on the mirror is our lack of forgiveness, violence, negative judgment, and lack of compassion.

Most of the images come from my drawings of my dreams. For me psyche speaks to all through the imagination and dreams. The women of Barrak 9 created an imaginary radio. These brave women of great faith and compassion kept their spirit alive through the imagination. Faith and imagio are are links to the Self, the transpersonal center of each personality which lies beyond the ego, and is our lamp in the darkness. For me God often speaks through dreams and visions.
Our world has a great deal of violence and darkness. Finding new roads to peace, love, and nonviolence through meditation is one way to honor those who died at Majdanek. By dedicating the piece to the women of Barrack Nine who found a ray of light in the darkness, I hope to make the piece to commemorate their lives.

Each viewer is asked to sit in one of the chairs, with a hand mirror mounted to the right of each chair. The mirror reflects an image projected on a scrim in front of the viewer, into the viewer's heart center. Even though I am Catholic, the images are meant to appeal to people of all faiths, not one particular religion. The child represented in the projections represents new possibility. The images are to inspire meditation on the cosmos and the positive potential found in all hearts.

The music is Jewish (from the time of the first Temple), Hindu, and Sufi. All of the music refers to the name of God.

E-mail: annartistmccoy@earthlink.net