From 1 to 4 May 2025, Julia Krahn will realise the art project ‘unfassbar’ in the rooms of the Landesmuseum Hannover on the occasion of the 39th German Protestant Church Congress 2025. The project is based on the current exhibition ‘FrauenBilder. Julia Krahn in Dialogue’, which can be seen until 17 August 2025.
Image above: Julia Krahn unfassbar, 2025 © the artist.
The art project takes up central themes of the exhibition FrauenBilder. Julia Krahn in Dialogue at the Landesmuseum Hannover – including physicality, role allocation and sexualised violence – and takes them further in a new, performative form.
Julia Krahn thus consistently pursues her aim of not restricting art to closed spaces. As an artistic contribution to Kirchentag 2025, unfassbar opens up a space for reflection – about what shapes us, what moves us and what is often intangible, yet deeply felt.
unfassbar invites women who have experienced sexualised violence to be portrayed by Julia Krahn. The subject is both the vulnerable and injured woman, but also the woman who reacts. Every day, women are victims of mental and physical abuse. Every day, women search for their way back into a life that they themselves determine. In the tension of permanent wounding and longed-for healing, women are redesigning themselves, exploring emotionally, cognitively and physically what kind of woman they can be today and in the future – in the face of a past that will shape them forever.
The aesthetic approach to the personal stories of experiencing violence and becoming stronger gives space to the experiences and visions of those affected, in which they can show how they want to be seen.
In the art action, the participants remain free of judgements and standards; they determine the relationship between the intimacy and publicity of the topic themselves. What it means to act ‘boldly, strongly and courageously’ is expressed and emphasised in different ways. The artist will meet the women in a protected environment in order to actively involve them in the creative process. Psychological support will be offered by the specialist counselling centre Violetta e.V. on site.
The resulting portraits will be integrated into the exhibition via digital media during the church congress. This action will bring the art even closer to the viewer, communicate it directly to the city and the Kirchentag 2025 and thus bring it to life.
For twenty years, Julia Krahn has been exploring the challenges of human existence in her artistic work: the obstacles that need to be overcome and the inner forces that emerge from them. The healing of emotional wounds is a central aspect of her work. The expression and exchange of feelings, consolation and empathy are her tools. In addition to introspection, she draws her inspiration from the world of the sacred and from collective visual memory. In her artistic practice, self-portraits are a recurring discipline that Julia Krahn uses in collaboration with other people. The image becomes a witness to a dialogue, whereby the focus is less on form than on experience.
‘My work aims to make the invisible visible – not in the literal sense, but as an emotional resonance in the viewer,’ says Julia Krahn.
WHEN?
Exhibition dates: Tuesday, 1 May – Sunday, 4 May 2025
Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 6 pm
WHERE?
Landesmuseum Hannover
Willy-Brandt-Allee 5
30169 Hannover
