Wars, omnipresent in the media, shape our visual habits and dominate public perception. In addition to visible forms of violence, such as the destruction of buildings and cultural sites, images of civilian casualties, or pictures of displaced persons and refugees, the exhibition also addresses the invisible dimensions of violence. Structural, psychological, and gender-based violence, particularly against women and minorities, as well as the resulting traumas, often remain hidden. Ideological and religious hatred, passed down through generations and disproportionately affecting women, is often deliberately suppressed. Shame and societal stigmatization often protect the perpetrators, while the consequences for those affected are profound and long-lasting.
(In)Visibility of Violence raises questions: What societal, political, and media mechanisms make violence visible or invisible? How is violence documented, instrumentalized, or censored? What creative and artistic strategies can make violence perceptible? How do artists use techniques such as estrangement, censorship, documentation, or spectacle to reveal or obscure violence?
The group exhibition “(In)Visibility of Violence” sheds light on these questions. It is based on a collaboration between TraCe and 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. A journal will be published in conjunction with the exhibition, developed in collaboration between KUNSTHALLE GIESSEN and scholars from the TraCe research center.
When? Vernissage on August 22; the exhibition can be visited from August 23 at the Kunsthalle Giessen until November 2, 2025.
Where? KUNSTHALLE GIESSEN, Berliner Platz 1, 35390 Giessen
Accompanying Program
Guided tour by the curators (in German)
Nadia Ismail: Sun. 31.08., 15:00 h
Theresa Deichert: Sun. 14.09., 15:00 h
Larissa-Diana Fuhrmann: Sun. 12.10., 15:00 h
Art Buzz – Short guided tours & drinks for young culture fans (in German & English)
Thurs. 18.09., 18:00 h
Art & coffee (in German)
Wed. September 24, 15:00 h
Registration by: 22.09.
kunsthalle@giessen.de, +49 641 306 1041
Participation fee 2,50 €
Film screening & talk
Laura Poitras, Death of a Prisoner, 2013 + Larissa-Diana Fuhrmann in conversation with Sebastian Köthe
Wed. 01.10., 18:00 h
Art education in individual conversation (English on request)
every Sat. 14-16 h
Closing
Panel discussion + Q&A with artists, researchers and curators
Sun. 02.11., 15:00 h
Rotating film program in the video cabinet
Sat. 23.08. – Tue. 09.09.
Roopa Gogineni, Suddenly TV, 2022
Wed. 10.09. – Sat. 27.09.
Rabih Mroué, The Pixelated Revolution, 2012
Sun. 28.09. – Wed. 15.10.
Jean-Gabriel Periot, EVEN IF SHE HAD BEEN A CRIMINAL…, 2006
Thurs. 16.10. – Sun. 02.11.
Total Refusal, How to Disappear, 2020
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.