2021 Denkraum Deutschland | Pinakothek der Moderne

WOMEN IN THE DARK – aufruhr des schweigens in Munich

feminine – the social and political power of the feminine in art and society

Group Exhibition

about: WOMEN IN THE DARK & aufruhr des Schweigens München
(auf Deutsch)

about: Ausstellungs-Flyer München
(auf Deutsch)

WOMEN IN THE DARK – aufruhr des schweigens | 2021
shirts | fabric | 600 x 2000 cm

The installation consists of white shirts with texts in around 40 languages by 690 women from Germany who have written their experiences with discrimination and violence, but also hopes and demands, on these clothing with a red pen.

WOMEN | 2021
Video | 20:00 min

17 women from 5 countries (Zimbabwe, Switzerland, China, India and Mauritius) read their text, which they wrote with a red pen on white clothing. It is about their experiences with discrimination and violence.

The video work WOMEN is part of the international, transdisciplinary and participatory art project WOMEN IN THE DARK.

HE(A)R | 2021
Audio-Installation | 60:00 min

60 women each read a text, written by 60 women from Germany – selected from the 690 shirts.

BOOK | 2021
661 transcribed texts translated into German, 29 photos – each page of the book shows one text or a shirt, written by a woman from Germany.

HOW SOCIAL IS ART?
Chances and limits of an interaction

Panel discussion

Carolina Trautner | Bavarian State Minister for Family, Labor and Social Affairs, Commissioner for Women’s Issues of the Bavarian State Government
« […] that many women have written down their oppressive stories here in order to then strike their liberation blow on this wall. I find that incredibly impressive – I think it’s ingenious, linking social issues and art.»

Pia Brüner | Art Education Pinakothek der Moderne
« […] because through Franziska Greber’s art people come into contact with each other on very different levels. […] it’s a wonderful example for me of how I imagine the museum, as a lively place, as a socially relevant place, and as a place where people meet and exchange ideas.»

Dr. Monika Schröttle | Political and Social Scientist
« […] This scientific, political and artistic approach and bringing together […] is a whole other level of seeing and recognizing things […] you want to climb up a ladder and read everything […] and like to do more and further evaluate these treasures that are in there.»

BACKSTAGE – Experiences with the international art project WOMEN IN THE DARK
Workshop with the artist & initiator Franziska Greber and other participants in the project

Antje Krüger & Patricia Kielinger, project partners and coordinators WOMEN IN THE DARK Germany | Doris Felbinger, BIG e.V. Berliner Initiative gegen Gewalt an Frauen (BIG e.V. and der PARITÄTISCHE Bayern implemented WOMEN IN THE DARK – aufruhr des schweigens in Germany) | Ute Brechtelsbauer (Frauenhaus Nürnberg, one of over 100 organizations from 12 federal states that accompanied the women’s writing process) | Nina Wurman (implementation of the sound installation) | Michael Wladarsch (implementation of the book) | Anja Papenfuss (participant in the sewing process)

Antje Krüger | Project Partner WOMEN IN THE DARK Germany
«The idea to do that came up in Switzerland when you presented to us, what you had done in other countries – and then for us very quickly the thought that this is also possible here with us. […] Before that, it was partly unimaginable. […] There are always people who you can inspire with this idea […] The theme of this DENKRAUM ‘feminine’ and the examination of the potential of femininity in art and society, that also has something to do with this project.»

Michael Wladarsch | cultural organizer, artist & designer
«Your art […] creates an abstract size, which is simply not comprehensible, to open […] where one is touched. […] The care with which each individual shirt, each individual woman, each fate is valued and also respected […] and that, in my view, distinguishes an art that interferes and that is political and that also has a statement. […] an artist who has very good ideas and a very good concept to make a situation visible.»

Nina Wurman | Musician
«It was very clear to me that I was doing this. […] Everything kind of fell into place. […] What I totally underestimated is what it means for women to read these texts.»

Ute Brechtelsbauer | Social Worker
« […] exciting how the mood has changed […] suddenly a spirit of upbeat has arisen […]. I was here with five women […] it was so moving.»

Anja Papenfuss | Young BPW – Business and Professional Women Club
«I was able to become part of such a big whole […] that alone made a big impression on me […] it was quite an extraordinary work for me.»

BR24 Bayerische Rundschau | Blickpunkte | Gaby Weber | Germany | July 16, 2021

Mit Kunst gegen sexualisierte Gewalt? February 14, 2019 | Radio Dreyeckland | Germany
Interview with Claudia Meise | Notruf Göttingen | participating in WOMEN IN THE DARK
(in German)
1:58 min

Mit Kunst gegen sexualisierte Gewalt? | Radio Dreyeckland (rdl.de)