Eva Quittner in Bloom

Eva Quittner's love of nature, her passion for her adopted country Australia, and her devotion for her family are reflected in this beautiful collection of paintings. They sympbolise her celebration of life and her survival against all odds. In 1993 Eva pulished her long-suppressed memories of her harrowing experiences as a child when she was taken from her family to a concentration camp. A talented thirteen-year-old whose dream was to become an artist, she found her happy world had come to an abrupt end. Eva's book was an amazing and detailed account of what she endured and how she, the only one of her family, survived the horror of the Second World War. The book titled Pebbles of Rememberance was published with a companion volume of her paintings, The Art of Eva Quittner. These were launched in conjunction with a retrospective exhibition of her work. In Bloom presents the paintings Eva has done since 1993, devoted to her love of flowers. These images represent a significant shift in style and subject matter from her earlier works, evolving to a period of colour, freedom and 'joie de vivre.' The book also completes Eva's fascinating story.Her daughter Diane, who has written the text, tells us what happened to the fourteen-year-old orphan after the liberation; her life after the war; her escape from Hungary with a child in her arms and her new life in Australia.
Not only is Eva Quittner's life an amazing example of survival, but it also shows how suffering and sadness can be redeemed by a loving family and through the power and inspiration of art.