Special Edition of 30, signed / numbered in verso
In 2016, Sarah found a box of photos taken by her grandfather Mordechai, who ran a photography studio in Kaunas, Lithuania, before the Second World War. The studio was called Foto Germano, Lithuanian for Herman, and specialised in family portraits. This discovery served as an inspiration for Sarah’s own research into the history of the Germano family - she recognised the similarities between her and her grandfather’s photographic work in composition, still faces and subduing looks. As a part of this investigation, Herman visited Tonia Levin (1925-2019), the last living family member who had personal memories of the photo studio.
‘Central for the series ‘Germano’ are Tonia Levin's memories and her life story. Tonia was the daughter of my grandfather's eldest brother, and the last living holocaust survivor in my family. This is an ode to Tonia and the strength with which she rebuilt her life after the war. I visited Tonia several times during the last years of her life and we became very close. This photograph was taken through the window from inside Tonia's living room.’
Sarah Mei Herman