An exhibit commemorates the 80th anniversary of one specific attack, an assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler. It showcases the profound yet underappreciated related efforts made by women who stood in defiance of Nazi oppression. Curated by Hannah Goldstein and Claudia Balsters, the exhibit emphasizes that women’s stories have frequently been marginalized in historical narratives.
As Goldstein underscores in the most essential way, “Women’s stories have always been considered less interesting than men’s. She provides a number of explanations for this imbalance, but says perhaps the biggest reason is that the victors get to write history. This thoughtful reflection reminds us of a simple truth: history is told by the winners. Much more often, these winners are mostly white guys.
The exhibition serves as a powerful reminder of the essential roles women played in the fight against oppression and highlights figures such as Annedore Leber. Having been imprisoned by the Nazis herself, Leber spent her life recording the memories of resistance fighters. As Goldstein notes, it’s amazing how timely these women’s contributions are in the present day. She explains, “We need to continue fighting because we have a pretty scary picture in Europe right now and in many regions of the world.”
This art exhibit comes at a time when we need it the most. Beyond that danger, it underscores the growing danger of far-right anti-democratic sentiments sweeping the continent. News reports, too, indicate a disturbing increase in violence against Holocaust memorials across Germany. Even more shocking is a recent wave of vandalism targeting memorials to the LGBTQ victims and plaques marking deportation of Jewish people.
Beyond satisfying requirements, Balsters reflects on the impact their work has made. They say that guests to the exhibit have found meaningful connections to the stories being told. We’ve workshopped this work in France and Germany. Visitors had the opportunity to compare their own family stories with our images and were often overwhelmed by the impactful histories we showcase. Through this experience, they were forced to challenge and think critically about what it meant to be a change agent.
The exhibit focuses on inspiring audiences through the profound courage these women displayed during such a dangerous era. It should remind us all to be eternally vigilant in protecting our democracy, especially today.
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