In the organizer's words:

Husband killers

STORIES OF SURVIVAL

An exhibition about domestic violence in Romania and Moldova by Ioana Pascaru, Miguel Hahn and Jan-Christoph Hartung. Made possible by Art Kombinat e.V.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

WIFE MURDERERS: STORIES OF SURVIVAL

This exhibition sheds light on the moving fates of six women from Romania and Moldova who killed their husbands in an act of desperation after suffering years of domestic violence. Their stories reveal a desperate fight for survival and the path to a new life.

"AN UNDEFEATED WOMAN IS LIKE AN UNSWEPT HOUSE"

This old proverb from Romania and Moldova illustrates a frightening reality: violence against (married) women is not only trivialized, but even considered the social norm. The two countries share history, language and culture as well as deeply rooted patriarchal structures. A closer look reveals another disturbing commonality: a significant proportion of women imprisoned for murder have killed their own husbands.

AN EXHIBITION ABOUT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

The project, initiated by Romanian-born Ioana Pascaru, is the result of intensive research. With empathy and perseverance, she discovered the stories of these women, established contacts, conducted personal interviews and prepared a journalistic account of their fates. Together with photographers Miguel Hahn and Jan-Christoph Hartung (Hahn+Hartung), who are known for their documentary reports on social developments ranging from the absurd to the tragic, they captured intimate insights into the lives of six women. These are symbolic of numerous other women with similar fates. The exhibition presents impressive portraits that document the pain, resilience and journey of these women into a new life. A life after the killing of their tormentors and years of imprisonment for murder. The photos are complemented by video interviews that make the voices of the women themselves audible.

GUILT MUST NOT CHANGE SIDES

The exhibition "Wife murderers: Stories of Survival" invites us to view the protagonists not as murderers, but as survivors. It raises questions about justice and social responsibility and encourages reflection - about combating violence against women and resisting patriarchal structures.