Violence Between Visibility and Invisibility

Exhibition opening at KUNSTHALLE GIESSEN attracks large audience

On Friday, August 22, 2025, KUNSTHALLE GIESSEN, in colla­boration with the TraCe, opened the ex­hibition “(In)visibility of Violence.” More than 100 visitors accepted the invi­tation to the opening and engaged with the im­pressive artistic po­sitions dedi­cated to the visible and invisible di­mensions of violence—as well as the spaces in between. Moving speeches and intense dis­cussions raised aware­ness of forms of vio­lence that often re­main hidden.

The exhibition visitors are photographed through a woven net.
Foto: Jens Gerber
Three people are standing in front of a white wall, looking at two very large light blue paintings.
Foto: Jens Gerber
The silhouettes of five people in front of a row of pictures on a white wall.
Foto: Jens Gerber
Two people are standing in an old living room, looking at the table.
Foto: Jens Gerber

After wel­coming remarks by Giessen's Mayor Frank-Tilo Becher, Christoph Degen (State Secretary at the Hessian Minis­try of Science and Re­search, Art and Culture) and Jonas Wolff, cu­rators Theresa Deichert, Larissa-Diana Fuhr­mann and Nadia Ismail intro­duced the concept behind the exhi­bition. In his opening speech, Giessen's mayor empha­sized the timeliness of the subject: violence is not only a distant war event, but also has an im­pact within society – for example in forms of structural, gender-specific, or extre­mist violence. He continued: “This means that the exhibition is not purely an artistic project, but also a space for research and discussion.”

A man is speaking on stage in front of an audience.
Foto: Jens Gerber
A man is speaking into a microphone and gesturing.
Foto: Jens Gerber
Three people are posing in front of a blue wall with colorful rugs.
Foto: Jens Gerber
Seven people are posing for a group photo in front of a black wall.
Foto: Jens Gerber

The exhibition brings together artistic works from the last three decades that document violence, transform it, or deliberately challenge visitors' imaginations through empty spaces. The opening attracted not only an interested audience, but also media attention (all coverage in German):

Es stehen viele Hefte und Poster in einem Regal.
Das TraCe-Rollup steht zwischen zwei Ausstellungspostern.

The sixth TraCe Working Paper (in German), published in cooperation with KUNSTHALLE GIESSEN on the occasion of the exhibition, was also promoted. Excerpts from the TraCe contributions can also be found in a journal published to accompany the exhibition, which contains articles by the three curators as well as background information on the artists and works, thus further deepening the exhibition (available at KUNSTHALLE GIESSEN in German and English). The journal also includes excerpts from the comic “Code of Courage,” which is based on Laura Guntrum's research.

The exhibition runs until November 2. Entry is free of charge. Further information, including details of the extensive accompanying program, can be found on KUNSTHALLE GIESSEN’s website.

► To the event announcement