“Facing The Taboo”: Artistic Exhibition & Reflection
Description
Every day in Germany, nearly 14 children die of life-limiting illnesses. It‘s a poignant reality. But how can we effectively and sensitively dismantle this taboo, to bring more focus to the issue and gather donations for the Federal Association for Children‘s Hospices? The concept of the agency MENSCH Kreativagentur: To ease the challenging conversation and confront the issue head-on, it was translated into art and staged accordingly.
At the Nuremberg art event “Blaue Nacht,“ the issue of social exclusion was overcome and brought to the forefront through art exhibits. Large-scale pieces showcased portraits of children dissolving. Employing a mixed technique of 3D renderings and photography, it created images resembling snapshots of the dissolution process, capturing the children in their vulnerability.
The choice of material was crucial: Observing the motifs on the translucent glass walls, one inevitably sees their own reflection, thus becoming a part of the artwork that deals with life and its dissolution. The immediate reflection encapsulated in one image what a thousand words could scarcely achieve.
Texts provided background information on each individual child and opportunities for donations to the association. Art enthusiasts were unexpectedly yet sensitively confronted with a taboo subject. After its premiere in Nuremberg, the exhibition went on tour throughout Germany. Donations increased by over 70 percent during the campaign period, and national media covered the initiative.