Violence Between Visibility and Invisibility

Three people stand next to each other, looking at two blue pictures in an exhibition. Two of them are holding hands.

Photo: Jens Gerber

Exhibition opening at KUNSTHALLE GIESSEN attracks large audience

On Friday, August 22, 2025, KUNSTHALLE GIESSEN, in colla­boration with the Research Center “Transformations of Political Violence” (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 camera looks into an exhibition space through an art object in the form of a woven spiderweb.
Photo: Jens Gerber
Several people are looking at pictures in an exhibition.
Photo: Jens Gerber
Two women are leaning over a table that is part of an exhibit.
Photo: Jens Gerber

Following 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, Mayor Becher empha­sized the timeliness of the subject, noting that violence is not occuring in distant wars, but also has an im­pact within society – manifesting in forms such as structural, gender-specific, and extre­mist violence. He continued: “This means that the exhibition is not purely an artistic project, but also a space for research and discussion.”

The camera focuses on a man in a suit standing at a lectern on stage, speaking to the audience. A program is projected onto the wall in the background.
Photo: Jens Gerber
The camera focuses on a man dressed in blue standing at a lectern and speaking to the audience.
Photo: Jens Gerber
Three women stand in front of a blue wall adorned with colorful tapestries and smile at the camera.
Photo: Jens Gerber
Seven people dressed in formal attire stand in a museum room and pose for the camera.
Photo: 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):

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 journal and the TraCe Working Paper are displayed on a showcase shelf.
The TraCe rollup stands between two exhibition posters.

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.