C/O Berlin presents Julie Legouez' artist's book The Cure at the first TALKING BOOKS event.
On March 20, C/O Berlin hosted a reading followed by a discussion. Participants included Helena Melikov, publisher of SHIFT BOOKS; artist and author Julie Legouez; curator Sophia Greif; and Raluca Blidar, head of the bookshop. The event marked the launch of the exhibition space's new TALKING BOOKS series.
Julie Legouez read from her artist's publication The Cure , in which she processes her personal experiences as a victim of domestic violence. She spoke about her experiences and the creation of the book, which is conceptually designed as a "file" with artistic exploration.
After the reading, Helena Melikov explained why SHIFT BOOKS consciously publishes books on "difficult" topics such as domestic violence. She also emphasized that statistics on domestic violence have risen alarmingly since the pandemic, making it particularly important to raise awareness.
The Cure was presented as part of artist Laia Abril's exhibition On Rape – And Institutional Failure at C/O Berlin. Abril employs a research-based approach, collecting photographs, reports, quotes, videos, and artifacts to expose the structures that enable rape and how misogynistic attitudes are normalized in society and politics. This methodology of accumulating evidence is also reflected in Legouez's work, in which she addresses and processes the violence perpetrated against her.
Many artists address issues such as domestic abuse and gender-based violence. One of them is Donna Ferrato, an internationally acclaimed photojournalist. Her 1991 photobook , Living With the Enemy, sparked a nationwide discussion about sexual violence and women's rights by documenting the often hidden world of domestic violence.
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Author: Maitreya Ravenstar
Order The Cure by Julie Legouez
