Author Description

Produced by Paul Antick, itourist? is a multi-media project that uses billboard art, writing and the internet to pose a series of questions about the relationship between the Holocaust, Jewish identities and mass tourism in the 21st century. In December 2006 fourteen 10 x 20ft billboards - produced by Paul Antick and Syd Shelton - were simultaneously erected in Southampton, London and Terezin, Czech Republic (formerly Theresienstadt concentration camp), each remaining in situ for two weeks. The Southampton billboards were located in St. Andrews Rd (nr Medina Mosque), Commercial Rd (adj. Mayflower Theatre), 137-138 St Mary's St and Harbour Parade. An accompanying website www.visual-culture.com forms an important, constitutive part of the project. Functioning like a digital notebook, the artist hopes that it will encourage discussion and ideas regarding itourist? It provides audiences with the opportunity to post their own thoughts about the project, as well as including other billboard locations and further information. To coincide with the billboard project a one day symposium, Journeys through the Holocaust, took place at the John Hansard Gallery on 11 December 2006.