How profoundly difficult can it be to say “I am homeless” in a society that often stigmatises and misunderstands this reality? The opening of the exhibition on Women’s Day aims to raise awareness of a marginalised group of people who are often forgotten and whose plight we are reluctant to talk about.
Tamara Csibra-Kaizler’s writings and Laura Wilhelm’s photographs present the stories, life situations and temporary personal spaces of women living in homeless shelters. The women featured are not living on the streets, yet they move along the spectrum of homelessness and experience various degrees of instability, often invisible to society. The participants are all mothers, daughters, grandmothers, ordinary people. How did they end up in institutions, where do their lives go from here, what are their dreams and perspectives? Do they still dare to dream?
In the gallery space, the interview becomes an exhibition. The interviews and photographs become narratives, and the fieldwork stations and collaborators become visible, with which subtle nuances of stories emerge. Diary-like installations, enlarged interviews, notes and poster-size portraits indicate the variety and complexity of personal emphases. The exhibition serves not only as a platform for visibility, but also as a call for empathy and understanding towards each other: how much would a kind word and a little understanding change people’s lives?
Importantly, the exhibition is organised with a͟d͟o͟m͟á͟n͟y͟g͟y͟ű͟j͟t͟é͟s in mind, and the space also serves as a gathering point. The donations received will be passed on to the women concerned and the organisations supporting them. In addition to material support, donations of material goods in good condition would serve as a support:
– sanitary and intimate pads, incontinence pads
– underwear (panties, socks)
– toothbrush, toothpaste
– hair dye
– soap
– toiletries
– shower gel
– soap
– slippers (several sizes)
– nightgown, bathrobe
– shampoo
– deodorant
– comb
– lotion, face cream
– manicure set
– sewing kit
– hair dryer,
– towel
– make-up products