An invitation to an Exhibition in a Laundry — Leia Walz

an invitation to an exhibition in a laundry
took place in a laundry room and backyard in Karlsruhe, a space that has only been used for private purposes. The programme that lasted 18 days tells of common and manual work of washerwomen* and the stigma they are exposed to. Doing the laundry becomes a reference space to engage with the intersection of care work and wage labour.

The programme is based on a research that draws attention to this very city's structure, its hidden and unseen stories as well as the crossing of social roles and spaces. Material from various archives and conversations is bundled in three leaflets: “remembering”, “working” and “coming together”. The research was accompanied by an exhibition. It gathered the voices of close friends and artists who study or have studied at the University of Arts and Design Karlsruhe. They were invited to respond to the research and contributed works.

Drawings on the walls in this very backyard and laundry room tell of the movements of washing hands and recall the work of women* who did the laundry. They are part of the exhibition like the alternation of fabrics moving between the hands.

Drip Coffee by Jaya Demmer, Bench by Hanna Franke, Talk with Hanna Müller, Sage Lemonade by @nakaese, Window by Isabel Motz, Script by Miki Feller (designed by Bruno Jacoby), Soupe by Marie Faass, Listening Session by Vera Gaertner, Full Moon Reading by Nina Overkott, Tin Tub by Laura Haak, Sheet by Corinne Riepert, Drying Rack by Juliana Vargas Zapata (with help by TIN), Lace Doilies by Leonie Mühlen

Backyard- and exhibition design with: Hanna Franke & Michel Dachner

Leaflets with: Josefine Scheu, Nis Petersen, Isabel Motz

Briefe für ein Glossar with: Moritz Schottmüller, Mona Altmann

Radio Shbshb with: Timothee Charon, Sven Krahl , Nina Overkott

Photos by Mascha Dilger, Ecke Kruemeln, Oliver-Selim Boualam and Nis Petersen