Eva De Jong-Duldig - Escape and survival through art

1961 erreichte Eva das Viertelfinale von Wimbledon

1961 erreichte Eva das Viertelfinale von Wimbledon Source: Duldig Studio

In 1938, Eva escaped together with her parents from the Nazis who annexed Austria. In Australia, Eva became a tennis player and founder of the Duldig Studio, a not-for-profit public museum and art gallery.


Sculptor Karl Duldig and his wife Slawa (neé Horowitz), an artist and inventor, escaped from Vienna together with their baby daughter Eva in 1938.

After stops in Switzerland and Singapore, the family arrived in Australia on September 25, 1940.
Slawa und Karl Duldig in Wien, 1933
Slawa and Karl Duldig in Vienna, 1933 (Duldig Studio) Source: Duldig Studio
After almost two years of internment at Tatura they Duldigs eventually settled in Melbourne.
"My parent´s life can be seen as an inspiration to many. One is able to survive horrible times, to live through them and undergo a transformation." (Eva de Jong-Duldig)
Wiener Wohnzimmer
Viennese Salon (Duldig Studio) Source: (Duldig Studio)
Besides teaching in private schools, both Karl and Slawa continued their artistic work once they settled in Australia.
1928 entwarf Slawa Duldig den ersten faltbaren Regenschirm
Original designs of the first folding umbrella (Duldig Studio) Source: Duldig Studio
Eva graduated from Melbourne University and worked as a teacher. Encouraged by her father Karl, who played soccer and tennis, Eva also became a leading Australian tennis player and reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 1961.

After getting married to her Dutch husband, Henri, Eva also represented the Netherlands.

After her parents had passed away, Eva restored the family home and in 2002, she facilitated the establishment of a not-for-profit public museum, the Duldig Studio.
The gallery comprises works of art including paintings, furniture and documents from the family´s time in Vienna, Singapore and Melbourne.

SBS German paid Eva a visit at the Duldig Studio. Listen to a two-part series (in German) to learn more about the family.
LISTEN TO
https://audiomedia-sbs.akamaized.net/german_170915_748574.mp3 image

https://audiomedia-sbs.akamaized.net/german_170915_748574.mp3

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In August 2017, Eva launched her memoirs "Driftwood - Escape and Survival through Art".
"It tells my family´s story. It´s about our past - but our future as well." (Eva de Jong-Duldig)
Eva bei der Präsentation von "Driftwood" im August 2017
Eva during the launch of "Driftwood", August 2017 (Duldig Studio) Source: Duldig Studio
Visit the Duldig Studio in Malvern East. Please find more information .


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