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Greek, Renaissance and Baroque represent the height of Western Art,
which was always based on using the human figure as the ultimate form
of expression. Joseph Sheppard's work follows in this tradition. Having
heard, read and seen photographs of the Holocaust horror, he has always
had intense feelings about it. After receiving this commission, he visited
the Dachau concentration camp and upon returning to his studio in Italy,
this sculpture emerged.
The sculpture represents the flame of death that offered the only
escape from suffering for the Holocaust victims. In the flame, he depicts
their images particular to their tragedy; old and young, male and female,
starved, broken and naked. After the next generation there will be no
more living eyewitnesses to the tragedy. This monument will be a grim
reminder of the horror and will contribute to the prevention of any
possible recurrence.
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