In the latest exhibition at the Kunsthaus Bethanien, there are sculptures, photographs and varying creations from 30 female artists on display; 30 female artists from countries where the socio-political impact of communism remains a huge part of their history. Hero Mother, named after an old Soviet award for women who managed to raise ten living children, is fascinating in two ways: not only as a feminist critique of lost, forgotten or sidelined art made by women, but also as it places interconnected, post-communist art within a space that allows an immersive appreciation of reactionary communist creativity. Content ranges from photographs of those responsible for the Singing Revolution, which brought independence to the former Baltic states, to Hanoi-based Nguyen Trinh Thi’s captivating short film “Eleven Men”, which is found by ducking into a tunnel leading to a tiny pop-up cinema booth. It’s a thought-provoking, exceptionally well-curated and daring installation, and will cause you to reconsider stereotypes of post-communist art. (Text: Antonia Harris / Photo: (left) Almagul Menlibayeva, (top) Anetta Mona Chișa, (bottom) Elzbieta Jabłonska)
Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Mariannenplatz 2, 10997 Berlin-Kreuzberg; map
Tue–Sun 12–19h
