The exhibition “War’s unwomanly face” took place at the Museum of Army in Stockholm on May 2016, and at the US Ambassador’s Residence Villa Åkerlund, in the Diplomatstaden, Stockholm, during  September – November 2016.

Christeseva was inspired to create this exhibition by Svetlana Alexievich’s book “War’s Unwomanly Face”, which narrates the physical and psychological experience of women at the war. A personal story, Christeseva’s mother’s memories of wartime clothes, closely intertwined with the book impressions, gave birth to this event.

Just as the book’s author, looking through the memories of women who fought in a war, is trying to reveal the essence of being a woman, L.Christeseva, using art, searches answers for her personal, yet questioned by many, queries. The message of the exhibition is that accepting our memories and emotions, we have the possibility to heal the wounds. It’s important that we preserve our past and stay in touch with it because it’s a part of ourselves. It seems to be the only way to truly move forward.

The art installation was accompanied by “Remembering through clothes”, lecture of Elizabeth Wilson, Visiting Professor of Cultural Studies at the London College of Fashion.

Format: Toiles installation and educational events

Audience: wide audience, readers of Svetlana Alexievich’s book “War’s Unwomanly Face”

Goal: This is project  aims to set in motion a new challenge to the collective memory, emphasizes the importance of reflecting as a society the past in order to re-evaluate our present and future aspirations. Author also aims to attract attention to often forgotten female role in war history.