The Last Goodbye

On July 14th, 2016 the Shoah Foundation, Here Be Dragons, Otoy, and the United Nations traveled to Majdanek Concentration Camp to preserve an intimate conversation with a Holocaust survivor. The resulting VR experience, captured with advanced immersive technology, is a rare glimpse at history from the eyes of a man who lived it. Since 1943, Pinchas Gutter has repeatedly journeyed from his home in Toronto, Canada to Poland to share his experiences at Madjanek. Brought to the camp at age eleven, he has spent a lifetime educating teachers from all over the world on the horrors of last century. Gutter subjects himself to painful memories so that others might learn from his wisdom. Pinchas, now 85 years old, is both physically and emotionally exhausted. Unable to continue traversing the world, he has in recent years sought new methods of sharing his experiences. We now hope to similarly preserve Pinchas' presence and message - this time within the space where his words can resonate most strongly. Through the subtle aid of new VR technology, we recreated an intimate tour with Pinchas, allowing him to bear witness to millions of people worldwide and forever. Our hope is that this immersive experience will endure like the monument at of Madjanek - a testament, a memorial, and a cautionary tale.