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 highprofile 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 »WOMEN ON THE MOVE«, nine female photographers look at the current situation and the historical legacy of women in Eastern Europe from a variety of different angles: Belarus has one of the highest abortion rates in the world, yet abortions remain taboo. Tatsiana Tkachova met women who have had abortions; they tell of violence in marriage, abuse, fear and financial difficulties. In Poland, thousands are taking to the streets against the tightening of the abortion law. Agata Szymanska-Medina examines the eroding situation of the rule of law in Poland and the repression of judges who express critical views. Violetta Savchits documented women’s resistance to the rigged presidential election in Belarus in 2020 before it was silenced.Criticism, torture and persecution – these are also part of the story of the group Femen founded in Kiev. Justyna Mielnikiewicz portrayed the women’s rights activists who have been carrying out topless demonstrations for women’s rights for more than a decade. Photographs by the Ukrainian artist Elena Subach deal with the grandmothers´generation. Her images of women with handbags and traditional, colourful headscarves encourage reflection on the gap between the generations.

A collaboration between the artist Alicja Rogalska and the Hungarian Women’s Choir of Kartal resulted in the award winning video work News Medley, which impressively combines traditional folk tunes with contemporary texts. Natalia Kepesz deals with collective memories and their visual realisation: Her grandmother ran away from home to fight in the Second World War. In 1945 she sent a photo from the front. On the back she wrote: Let this dead photograph remind you of me alive. Maria Kapajeva’s video work deconstructs the Soviet propaganda film The Shining Path (Aleksandrov, 1940). In the current Russian war of aggression, international attention is focused on Oksana Parafeniuk’s homeland, Ukraine. Her photographs tell of life between war and the everyday.

Thursday, Sep 8, 2022, 7 pm
Opening Reception

Tickets for the following events: buy them online on the f³ website!

Sunday, Oct 2 + Nov 6, 2022, 11 am
FOTO-FÜHRUNG (Guided Tour)
Admission: 5 € | 3 €.

Wednesday, Sep 21, 2022, 7 pm
FOTO-TALK: FEMINIST MOVEMENT AGAINST DICTATORSHIP
Talk with Vika Biran (LGBTIQ+-Activist and Publicist) and Sasha Talaver (Central European University), Presentation: Anastasia Anisimova (n-ost). Held in English. Admission: 8 € | 5 €.

Wednesday, Oct 19, 2022, 7 pm
FOTO-TALK: BLICKE AUF OSTEUROPA
Talk with Prof. Dr. Monica Rüthers (University Hamburg) and Agata Szymanska-Medina (photographer), presentation: Gemma Pörzgen (journalist). Held in German. Admission: 8 € | 5 €.
Details & Online-Tickets

Wednesday, Nov 2, 2022, 7 pm
READING
The author Żanna Słoniowska reads from her book The Light of Women. Admission: 8 € | 5 €.

Sep 9 — Nov 6, 2022
Opening Reception: Thursday, Sep 8, 7 pm
+ Framework program: please see above

f³ – freiraum für fotografie

Waldemarstraße 17, 10179 Berlin
[District: Mitte | Borough: Mitte]

Opening hours: Wed – Sun 1 – 7 pm

Admission: 5 € / reduced 3 € | Exhibition tickets: on site | Event tickets: buy online