On 27 March 2014 Rafael Chwoles’ album Rafael Chwoles. The Search for Jerusalem was launched at the Tolerance Centre. His sons Alexander Chwoles and Milij Chwoles are patrons of the album which has  been published in the Lithuanian, English and French languages by the Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum. The Litvak artist was born in Vilnius in 1913 and died in Paris in 2002.

The artist‘s son Milij Chwoles came from Paris for the launch of his father‘s album. In his speech Milij Chwoles emphasised that the album was published to commemorate the 100^th anniversary since the birth of Rafael Chwoles and with the aim to promote the works of the undeservedly forgotten artist. Simona Makselienė, director of “Meno rinka”, in her speech emphasised that Lithuania is now discovering Litvak art, which is growing in popularity and financial value.

Director of the Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum Markas Zingeris welcomed everyone to the event and reminded them of certain events in the life of Rafael Chwoles, including his inability to adapt to the conditions dictated by the Soviet system and his retreat to the West. The author of the text and compiler of the album Laima Laučkaitė elaborated on the content of the album and talked about the efforts to systematise the works of the artist and to introduce readers to the vast variety of Rafael Chwoles’ artistic heritage. Lara Lempert, one of the reviewers of the album, pointed out that specialists of Jewish cultural history have not yet prepared an exhaustive book on the history of Vilnius, because everyone who knew the city and had to leave it see it differently and through the filter of their personal memories. According to Ms Lempert, the album presents the Vilnius of Rafael Chwoles, which adds yet another piece to the colourful mosaic of history.

The presentation of the album was held simultaneously with an exhibition of Rafael Chwoles’s art which included works by the artist from the collection of Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum.

Presentation of the album Rafael Chwoles. The Search for Jerusalem

On 27 March 2014 the album by Litvak artist Rafael Chwoles (1913, Vilnius – 2002, Paris) Rafael Chwoles. Search for Jerusalem was launched at the Tolerance Centre. The album has been published in the Lithuanian, English and French languages by the Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum and the sons of the artist, Alexander Chwoles and Milij Chwoles, who are patrons of the album. The author of the text and compiler of the album Laima Laučkaitė and Milij Chwoles, the artist’s son, attended the event.

Rafael Chwoles. The Search for Jerusalem. Text by Laima Laučkaitė, designer Jūratė Razumienė, coordinator Gajane Leonenko, consultant Milij Chwoles. Publisher: the Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum, 2013. © Alexander Chwoles, Milij Chwoles, 2013, 272 p.