While war and violence seem to be omnipresent in the media and shape our viewing habits, other forms of violence are widely invisible or intentionally made invisible. Structural, psychological or gender-based violence, especially against women and minorities, as well as the resulting trauma and mental suffering, often remain hidden. Ideological and religious hatred, which is passed down through generations and disproportionately affects women, is also often invisible or deliberately suppressed. Shame and social proscription often protect the perpetrators, while the consequences for those affected are profound and long-term. What structures of power and image regimes are concealed behind this mechanism of (in)visibility? How is violence documented, instrumentalised or censored? What creative and artistic approaches can be used to make violence visible?
The group exhibition “(In)Visibility of Violence” sheds light on these dynamics. In contrast to clearly visible violence, such as the brutal destruction of buildings and cultural assets, the sight of civilian casualties or images of never-ending streams of refugees, the exhibition also focuses on the often invisible dimensions of violence. It is based on a collaboration between TraCe and the Kunsthalle Giessen and continues investigations that were already addressed in the last cooperation as part of the TraCe annual conference on “Depictions of Excessive Violence”. The exhibition is curated by Nadia Ismail, Theresa Deichert and Larissa-Diana Fuhrmann.
When? The exhibition will open on August 22, at 7 pm; it can be visited at the Kunsthalle Giessen until November 2, 2025.
Where? Kunsthalle Giessen, Berliner Platz 1, 35390 Giessen
Participating artists:
- Helena Uambembe (South Africa)
- Hiba Alansari (Libya)
- Johanna-Maria Fritz (Germany)
- Johanna Herr (USA)
- Kresiah Mukwazhi (Zimbabwe)
- Lucinda Devlin (USA)
- Moath al-Alwi (Yemen)
- Rabih Mroué (Lebanon)
- Šejla Kamerić (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
- Thomson & Craighead (UK)
Entry is free of charge. More information can be found on Kunsthalle Giessen’s website.
The Kunsthalle Giessen is an institution for contemporary art in the city of Giessen, located in central Hessen. As a space dedicated to temporary exhibitions without a permanent collection, it presents current trends and positions in contemporary art across approximately 450 square meters. It is a place for exchange and freedom of expression, engaging with current global events from an interdisciplinary perspective. A particular focus is placed on transdisciplinary networking and collaborations. The Kunsthalle is committed to fostering engagement with contemporary art, offering diverse forms of mediation, and addressing relevant social discourses.