Opening: Women on the Move – Eastern Europe between Tradition and Action

8. September 2022 , 19:00

We cordially invite you to the opening of the exhibition

WOMEN ON THE MOVE
Eastern Europe between Tradition and Action

With works by: Maria Kapajeva, Natalia Kepesz, Justyna Mielnikiewicz, Oksana Parafeniuk, Alicja Rogalska, Violetta Savchits, Elena Subach, Agata Szymanska-Medina, Tatsiana Tkachova

Introduction: Miriam Zlobinski, the curator of the exhibition, in conversation with the photographers Maria Kapajeva and Tatsiana Tkachova.

Femen in Ukraine, Pussy Riot in Russia, the Women’s Marches 2020 in Belarus, as well as the struggles against the abortion paragraph in Poland: something is happening in Eastern Europe. For years, women have been drawing attention to themselves with political protests and high-profile actions. Internationally, they are perceived as political actors, publicly shattering the traditional clichés of women as workers, mothers or sex objects.

Women in Eastern Europe have their own history of socialisation: for more than forty years they were considered equal under communism – but usually the sole responsibility for housework and child rearing was added to their gainful employment. Strongly defined gender roles in everyday life appear to be incompatible with the self-image of a new generation of women. Today, the stereotypes have become shaky, or at least somewhat unstable. How do these women see themselves? How do we see them?

In the exhibition Women on the Move, nine female photographers document socio-political changes, but also individual experiences in their countries of origin. Their works take a differentiated look at the current situation and the historical legacy of women in Eastern Europe.

The exhibition was curated by Miriam Zlobinski, Visual Historian.

Supported by: