SHORT PORTRAIT Women in the Dark – WOMEN IN THE DARK GERMANY e.V.
Women in the Dark is an international art project by artist Franziska Greber that addresses violence against women as a global problem. So far, over 2,500 women from eight countries have taken part in the transdisciplinary and participatory process and have written their experiences and demands in red on white blouses. In a visually striking installation in Berlin, 690 blouses labelled in around 40 languages of origin by women living in Germany are now to be presented.
“The planned exhibition in Berlin will create a platform for an extremely important topic that is given far too little space in the public debate, measured by the number of victims. It positions itself against looking the other way and remaining silent and is not only convincing due to its relevance, but also due to its high artistic quality. Last but not least, its participatory design networks and involves many and diverse women, which empowers them,” says the jury.
3 Questions to… Franziska Greber artist of Women in the Dark – WOMEN IN THE DARK Germany e.V.
WOMEN IN THE DARK is an international art project against discrimination and violence, which so far has been implemented in eight countries and, since 2018, also in Germany. In close cooperation with women’s and human rights organizations, women are encouraged to write their experiences, hopes, and demands in red permanent marker on white blouses. In cooperation with the Berlin Initiative against Violence against Women, BIG e.V., and the PARITÄTISCHEN in Bavaria, around 150 organizations from 12 federal states and 690 affected women were motivated to participate.
The plan is to realize an exhibition in Berlin with various space-filling installations, workshops, and thematic support programs. Furthermore, a pilot project will develop new and innovative exhibition formats for organizations in other federal states that do not have the resources for a comprehensive exhibition of WOMEN IN THE DARK. This will also give them the opportunity to use art to contribute to the visibility of experiences of violence and encourage people still living in the dark to stand up for their rights.
…and everywhere in the world, is that society and politics recognize the various facets of sexism, gender stereotypes, discrimination and violence against women and do everything they can to put an end to it.
