Fight or flight

ein projekt von julie legouez & evelina Reiter

 EN Lee everett thieler
julie legouez
Aneta Kajzer
louisa frauenheim
Avery schramm 
Esther grüne
Dasha Buben
Paula niño
Sandra bejarano
Arezoo molaei
Sofiia yesakova
Sunkyu lee
Marthe Howitz
Jane Garbert
Jeiryung lee
evelina reiter
shona stark
bianca Kennedy
Hannah Lansburgh
Rachel Nord
marta vovk
anica seidel
simona andrioletti
Marina Stanimirovic


Photos: Kollektiv Symbiose, Arshiia Maljaei & Nina Hüpen-Bestendonk

Fight or flight is an ancient survival instinct that describes the rapid physical and psychological adaptation of living beings to dangerous situations. After a moment of shock, the entire organism is put under stress and all forces are being channeled to prepare for flight or attack. Once danger has been averted, a phase of recovery ensues.

But what does it mean to be in constant
danger?

Threatening situations and environments; toxic behaviours, patriarchal claims of ownership, social pressure on bodies; historical narratives that pathologise emotions such as ‘rage’ and perpetuate myths of rape, but also economic inequalities and dependencies are just as real as their effects: Anxiety, anxiety disorders, depression and physical disabilities. One thing is certain: to this day, safe spaces for FLINTA* do not exist – neither in the public nor in the private sphere.

The group exhibition Fight or Flight approaches these issues from the perspectives of 24 FLINTA* artists that examine current challenges and threats through a wide range of work.Instead of falling into a state of shock in the face of these overwhelming conditions, the artists propose coping strategies to traumas, experiences and fears faced in female* and queer life. In doing so, they offer powerful insights into forms of resistance to violence and discrimination.

The multitude of artistic practices shows that experiences that are often trivialized as ‘individual’ are in fact structurally enshrined in patriarchal societies. Fight or Flight thus creates a polyphonic space that enables exchange and new alliances in order to empower each other and jointly stand against the continuities of oppressive narratives.


Die Gruppenausstellung Fight or Flight nähert sich diesen Themen aus der Perspektive von 24 Künstler*innen an. Aktuelle Herausforderungen und Bedrohungen werden durch ein breites Spektrum an künstlerischen Arbeiten betrachtet. Statt im Angesicht der bedrückenden Bedingungen in Schockstarre zu verfallen, stellen sich die Künstler*innen kämpferisch den Traumata, Erfahrungen und Ängsten weiblichen* und queeren Lebens und schlagen Bewältigungsstrategien vor. Sie bieten Einblick in mögliche Formen des Widerstands gegen Gewalt und Diskriminierung.

Die Vielfalt der künstlerischen Praktiken zeigt, dass die oftmals als individualisierte Erfahrungen“ verharmlosten Erlebnisse in patriarchalen Gesellschaften strukturell verankert sind. Fight or Flight schafft so einen vielstimmigen Raum, in dem Austausch und neue Allianzen ermöglicht werden, um sich gegenseitig zu empowern und gemeinsam gegen die Kontinuitäten unterdrückender Narrative zu stellen.