THE ART PROJECT

Women are an important pillar in a society, but women and girls still often lack access to education, health care, work and basic rights.

In 2016, Franziska Greber founded the non-profit art project in Zimbabwe entitled WOMEN IN THE DARK, which in retrospect has assumed unimagined dimensions to this day. From the very beginning, WOMEN IN THE DARK was a participatory and transdisciplinary art project that addresses the realities of life for women.

In close cooperation with regional NGOs, women and human rights organizations, women are encouraged to write about their experiences, injuries, fear, hopes and demands on female clothing. The women usually write on white shirts with a red permanent marker, in India on dupattas/scarves. Franziska Greber chooses white shirts as an art medium because clothes are laden with societal, historical and cultural implications. Clothes may also reflect gender biases.

WOMEN IN THE DARK – a societal place assigned to many women – a place in the dark, with limited or even no rights. The level of darkness is different in each country, as is the reaction to women trying to speak out, but there are dark places everywhere.

WOMEN IN THE DARK contributes the visibility of the life conditions of women and initiates individual and societal change processes, referring to gender equality and protection from all forms of harassment and oppression by gender stereotypes, discrimination and violence in all societies.

Since Zimbabwe, WOMEN IN THE DARK has been implemented in the Seychelles, Mauritius, China, India, Switzerland, Chile and Germany.

Eventually, the project is presented in cultural institutions and museums of the respective country that are of national importance, both in group exhibitions and solo shows. The artistic, site-specific installations for which Franziska Greber uses the female garments with original messages form a central point of attraction.

CONCEPT

1. BUILDING UP COOPERATIONS & NETWORKS

Collaboration, participation, and discourse are the prerequisites and the foundation to be developed, and they are conceptually applied throughout the exhibitions and their long-term sustainability.

In each country, one or two project partners work with their own networks.

Each established collaboration further expands the global network of women’s and human rights organizations that advocate for amplifying women’s voices.

2. WRITING PROCESS

The women’s writing process is the responsibility of the local project partners. Specialists who support the women ensure a safe environment and are available for advice. With the women’s consent, the writing process is documented through interviews, videos, and photographs.

3. EXHIBITIONS & ACCOMPANYING EVENTS 

The artistic, site-specific installation—featuring clothing with the women’s original messages—forms a central point of attraction. Additional thematic installations, videos, photographs, texts, and audio can also be incorporated and adapted to the exhibition venues.

As a constantly growing project, WOMEN IN THE DARK may be presented locally and nationally within participating communities or countries, as well as on international platforms.

Project partners organize accompanying events during the exhibitions, turning WOMEN IN THE DARK into a major information and awareness campaign.

In this way, contemporary art can engage directly with societal issues and support or foster change.

4. LASTING IMPACT

for the participating women, impact is achieved through

  • making their own life situation public
  • exchanging experiences with other women and professionals
  • experiencing that their voices are heard and taken seriously

for the participating organizations, impact is achieved through

  • collaborations with institutions (museums) that reach a different audience and open new doors for the future
  • the opportunity to use the women’s texts as a basis for further training and research projects or to support their claims
  • using media attention to promote their concerns

in society, impact is achieved through

  • the public perception of hidden, repressed, or denied issues
  • confronting the statements of the women and being encouraged to address the topic
  • promoting dialogue through the resonance of visitors with the women’s voices. The interviews conducted by Franziska Greber can be viewed on the WOMEN IN THE DARK website and used in other contexts as well