Mirta Kupferminc

About This Interview

In my conversation with Mirta Kupferminc, I had the privilege of learning about her incredible journey as an artist. Born in Argentina as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, Mirta’s work is deeply influenced by her family’s experiences and her own search for connection and identity. She shared with me how growing up without extended family or photographs of her ancestors shaped her desire to create images, filling in the gaps left by history.

One of the themes we discussed at length was the way the sociopolitical environment of Argentina influenced her art. Mirta grew up during a time of dictatorship, and while she was too young to fully understand the dangers, her parents' warnings shaped her sense of caution. The political turmoil in Argentina, combined with her parents’ experiences as Holocaust survivors, has had a profound impact on her artistic vision.

What struck me most about our discussion was the way Mirta balances the deeply personal with the universal in her art. Her work touches on individual stories, such as her own family's trauma, while also speaking to broader themes like identity, memory, and human rights. She spoke about the challenge of representing Jewish identity in her art without relying on traditional symbols, and how she strives to create work that speaks not only for herself but for others who have experienced similar histories.

Mirta’s exploration of the Holocaust and Argentina's dictatorship in her work is powerful. She mentioned her use of metaphors and the difficulty of capturing the essence of someone’s experience without resorting to literal depictions. This resonated with me, especially as she emphasized the importance of creating art that invites viewers to see themselves in the work, to become witnesses to these stories.

One of the most compelling aspects of our conversation was how Mirta incorporates elements of traditional craftsmanship, such as embroidery, into her art. She explained the symbolic contrast between the needle used to create beautiful embroidery and the needle used to tattoo numbers on Holocaust survivors, a contrast she explores in her series "The Skin of Memory." Her use of real photographs and handwritten text in some pieces also reflects her commitment to honoring personal stories while creating a visual language that is both intimate and expansive.

As we delved deeper into her creative process, Mirta shared how her work often grows out of personal stories but ultimately seeks to address universal themes. One poignant example was her etching "A Ghost in the Łódź Ghetto," which was born from discovering her father’s lost son, a child he never spoke of. By creating art, Mirta gave form to the memory of this child, something deeply personal yet universally resonant.

Looking forward, Mirta is excited about her upcoming exhibition in 2026, which will focus on memory in the open air. She’s currently working with discarded photographs, exploring the significance of these forgotten images in a world that is increasingly digital. This project, like all of her work, aims to preserve and honor memory in a deeply personal yet widely accessible way.

Mirta’s dedication to preserving history, both personal and collective, is truly inspiring. Her commitment to ensuring that future generations continue to bear witness to these stories resonated deeply with me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from her experiences and insights.