Why War? Various artists

6 Aug-19 Oct 2014

Overview

On the anniversary of the onset of World War One, this exhibition revisits the little known correspondence between Einstein and Freud on the subject of war and the possibility of avoiding it. Themes of propaganda, disillusionment and the psychological aspects of conflict will be explored, not only through Freud’s writings, but also through artworks produced by the East London Printmakers and poetry written following a specially created Young Poets challenge. The exhibition also reflects on the Freud family’s experience of war, when three sons served on the front line, while the family waited anxiously for them, enduring considerable hardship at home. Politicians, journalists and academics will be giving their thoughts and visitors too will have the opportunity to add their answers to Einstein’s enduring question:‘Is there any way of delivering mankind from the menace of war?’