Clothing speaks volumes: Hiking exhibition shows victims of violence

Clothing speaks volumes: Hiking exhibition shows victims of violence

The hiking exhibition "What I am wearing .." opens on October 7th in the Haubberisser Hall of the Saarbrücken town hall and stirs to a topic as sensitive and explosive. The exhibition, which was designed by the journalist and exhibition maker Beatrix Wilmes, presents clothing that was borne by victims of sexual violence at the time of the acts. The purpose of this presentation is not only to sensitize the public, but also to set a political sign.

As part of the exhibition, Wilmes wants to draw attention to a central message: sexual violence can happen to any woman, regardless of what clothing she wears. Due to the visualized dealing with this tragic fate, the audience gives the opportunity to deal with the topic in an emphatic way. Women should not have to be ashamed of their clothes, as if it were the cause of the use of violence. Rather, it is about bringing the problem into social discourse.

The meaning of the exhibition

Beatrix Wilmes says in an interview that this exhibition approach is an important step to question clichés and prejudices that often burden the victims of violence. She explains how the development process of the exhibition went and what challenges there were to cope with. A central aspect was the required sensitivity in dealing with the sensitive topics and the selection of the exhibits. The goal is to create a platform that not only informs about the deeds themselves, but also makes the voices of those affected visible.

This exhibition is not only an appeal for mindfulness, but it should also be a request for political action. Wilmes hopes to contribute to the change in the social perception of sexual violence through this creative view of the problem. The importance of the clothing extends far beyond the material - they stand for the experiences and stories of women.

"What I wear .." should authorize those affected and toast a discussion about how we can perceive and combat sexual violence in our society. The exhibition offers an important opportunity to deal with this widespread, but often taboo topic.

The insights and analyzes that give the exhibition could help more people to be solidarity and work for the rights of the victims. In this sense, the exhibition is a step towards an open and honest discussion about the complex and often painful realities of the topic. Beatrix Wilmes invites the spectators to devote itself to this topic deeply and to reflect on what this means for our society.

The background and the details about the exhibition are in an in-depth article at www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de to read.