White blouses for women's rights and freedom from violence

From Altenburg to Nordhausen: the Thuringian Equal Opportunities Officers, together with the State Equal Opportunities Officer Nadja Sthamer, have brought the powerful message of "WOMEN IN THE DARK - aufruhr des schweigens" to the whole of Thuringia.

At the Kunsthalle Erfurt, Swiss artist Franziska is showing an international, transdisciplinary and participatory art project that makes the often invisible experiences of discrimination and violence against women tangible. 690 women from twelve German federal states wrote their experiences in red permanent marker on white blouses, creating an expansive walk-in installation in the Kunsthalle Erfurt.

Wearing white blouses that symbolize non-violence and bearing the names of their cities and districts, the equal opportunities commissioners carried the message of the impressive artwork from the Kunsthalle Erfurt to the Free State yesterday. In doing so, they are positioning themselves in solidarity with those affected.

Dr. Kerstin Haupt, Women's and Equal Opportunities Officer of the City of Jena:

"The message is: no domestic violence and discrimination against women in Thuringia - and nowhere else. Neither analog nor digital. Women and their stories must be visible. They must emerge from the darkness of concealment and disregard into the light. A life without violence is a fundamental right. We call on society to wake up and stop accepting this. We encourage victims and those around them to use the contact points to get out of violence safely. We want a Thuringia in which we do not hurt each other - but protect, strengthen and connect. That's what makes Thuringia a safe and liveable place - and we're also taking responsibility for this today."

The Equal Opportunities Officers would like to thank all the women who have become part of this art project with their courage and strength, bringing suffering, fear, agony, but also hope and strength into the light. They also convey to them their work for protection and hope and the call through Thuringia to bring violence and discrimination and themselves as women into the light. Across Germany, only around five percent of cases of domestic violence are reported.

"Thank you to all those who, like Collien Fernandez and all the women here in the exhibition, bring their personal suffering into the light with courage and strength. They are giving impetus to the movement to protect against violence and continuing the mission of implementing the Istanbul Convention and taking further action against domestic violence, digital violence against women, men and all people. As the state working group (LAG) of municipal equal opportunities officers in Thuringia, we welcome the announcements by Federal Minister of Justice Dr. Stefanie Hubig for more far-reaching legal regulations",

said Kerstin Haupt.

The commissioners would also like to thank the Kunsthalle in Erfurt for the initiative and financial support of the state equal opportunities commissioners in making the exhibition possible, and the artist for this highly emotional, powerful art campaign.

About the project:

"WOMEN IN THE DARK - aufruhr des schweigens" is a cooperation project between the Kunsthalle Erfurt, the Swiss artist Franziska Greber and the Thuringian State Equal Opportunities Commissioner.

The international, transdisciplinary and participatory art project makes the often invisible experiences of discrimination and violence tangible. The exhibition is part of the state action plan to implement the Istanbul Convention in Thuringia. It aims to raise public awareness and encourage those affected to break their silence.

• Exhibition period: Until 31.05.2026
  Tuesday - Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00 (including public holidays)
  Thursday from 11:00 to 22:00 (including public holidays)
• Location: Kunsthalle Erfurt, Fischmarkt 7, 99084 Erfurt

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