JESSICA Feather, who is curating the exhibition at the Walker Gallery, says: "They had to improvise in the camp, as they had no art materials and had to improvise with what they could lay their hands on.
"They used old newspapers, wallpaper and other scraps, which have become extremely fragile. Working in watercolours and pen and ink, their work creates both realistic and emotional pictures of life in the camp."
In particular, Dachinger produced some highly colourful work which vividly brings to life the misery of refugees and internment. Having worked as a commercial artist, Dachinger cleverly incorporates newspaper headlines into his work.
In one, the headline "Vitamins enlisted to win the war" remains unpainted, as if in judgment of the picture surrounding it of internees packed together in a hut, alongside a primitive stove.
A superb portrait of an unknown man reading a newspaper is painted onto a copy of The Times, for August 1, 1940, with headlines around him about obituaries to fallen officers and the Norwegian campaign. The subject of the portrait bristles with intelligence and vitality.
Jessica Feather says: "The camp had a stifling atmosphere of uncertainty and desperation. Over time, the internees were allowed to evolve a system of education and activities for themselves. Educational entrepreneurs among the internees started a camp university. Given that most of the internees were political or cultural refugees, they were a well-educated group of middle class professionals.
Britain rounded up 27,000 aliens in May and July 1940 (compared to 29,000 in WWI). Many people were put in holding camps while they waited to go before tribunals to decide which categories they belonged.
Both Dachinger and Nessler had been to art schools, but found it difficult to work for a living in their home countries. Dachinger was Jewish, but worked as a commercial artist in a big company.
Having realised life was going to get dangerous, he was able to get a transfer to their London office, in 1939, but was interned almost immediately.
