until 20.02.2027

Traces of Sexualised Violence in South Tyrol. Travelling exhibition on the research project TRACES.

The travelling exhibition My Grandma, My Mother and Me – Traces of the Past, Responsibility for Today is dedicated to the transgenerational consequences of sexualised violence. At its core is the question of how experiences of violence affect not only the directly affected women, but also their children and grandchildren – in their relationships, their sense of their own bodies, and their ways of dealing with intimacy and boundaries.

Starting from its title, the exhibition spans three generations: from the grandmothers’ experiences in times of war and post-war hardship, to the mothers growing up with unspoken family secrets, through to the younger generations who begin to ask questions, find language, and break the cycle of shame, silence and blame. Interview excerpts, biographical fragments, photographs, documents and artistic elements make these often hidden stories visible and tangible.

Although the focus is on South Tyrol – with its specific historical, religious and social contexts – patterns emerge that reach far beyond the region: silence within the family, victim blaming, institutional turning a blind eye, and the trivialisation of violence. The exhibition shows that sexualised violence is not a private problem, but is deeply embedded in social power structures.

My Grandma, My Mother and Me translates the findings of the research project TRACES (Transgenerational Consequences of Sexualized Violence) into an experience-based format. Visitors gain insights into the psychological and social dynamics of trauma and its transmission across generations. At the same time, the exhibition opens spaces for reflection and empowerment: it makes not only suffering, but also resilience, solidarity and possibilities for action visible.

The aim of the exhibition is to raise awareness, break taboos, and offer points of connection both for those affected and for those not directly affected.