To Be Seen

Queer Lives 1900–1950

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[Translate to English:] Projektbeschreibung

The visibility of queer persons plays a central role in today’s debates on identity and diversity, but it also has a historical dimension. During the first half of the 20th century, those whose gender identity and/or sexual orientation did not correspond to the supposed heterosexual norm suffered a tragic fate marked by resistance, awakening, oppression and being forgotten. In cooperation with researchers, artists and activists, the Munich Documentation Centre for the History of National Socialism is developing the exhibition “To Be Seen” which explores the little-known history of queer life in Germany. The organisers hope to make the multitude of queer identities and their participation in social developments visible to a broad audience.

In cooperation with historians and artists, “To Be Seen” initiates a dialogue between history and contemporary art – and integrates it into the museum’s permanent exhibition and outdoor area. International works of art will provide new perspectives on the archived materials stored at the NS Documentation Centre. For example, collages by the American artist Zackary Drucker refer to her Jewish, cross-dressing grandmother, who had already featured in her series entitled “Transparent”. The Hungarian poet Zoltán Lesi and the Brazilian artist Ricardo Portilho address the subject of intersexuality in sports in the 1930s, while the Viennese artist Lena Rosa Händle highlights the hidden codes of lesbian subculture used during the era of National Socialism.

The exhibition will be supplemented by a broad range of accompanying and educational events on such topics as local city history, intersectionality, drag, and queer identity in literature and film.


Artistic director: Karolina Kühn
Artists: Katharina Aigner, Maximiliane Baumgartner, Cassils, Zackary Drucker, Philipp Gufler, Lena Rosa Händle, Zoltán Lesi, Henrik Olesen, Karol Radziszewski, Wu Tsang and others

Exhibition and programme, Munich Documentation Centre for the History of National Socialism, Munich: 6 Okt. 2022 – 21 May 2023

Contact

NS-Dokumentationszentrum
München

Max-Mannheimer-Platz 1
80333 München
www.ns-dokuzentrum-muenchen.de (external link, opens in a new window)