Monströs

Monsters give tangible shape to the invisible forces that govern our lives under capitalism. They carry meaning, serving as expressions of cultural anxiety and social uncertainty. In a world shapes by crisis, the gothic and horror have moved from the margins straight into the heart of pop culture. They offer no simple escape from reality, but rather a sharp diagnosis: the more monstrous our world becomes, the more we seek our own reflection in its fictions. Mythical creatures like vampires, zombies, and werewolves return again and again. As hybrid figures, their meaning shifts across different eras and perspectives. Power structures have long constructed monsters to marginalise dissident voices, only for targeted communities to reclaim the monster as a canvas for self-expression and a symbol of resistance. Conversely, the concept of monstrosity is turned back on those in power, exposing the mechanisms of their reign: exploitation, alienation and oppression. The participating artists navigate this duality. They bring to light what truly threatens existing systems of dominance: bodies that assert their autonomy, resist the mandate of reproduction, or reject rigid societal categories. At the same time, these works unmask the harsh realities operating beneath the monstrous: the zombie-like persistence of fascism and the colonial continuities embedded within these stories. By exposing the monstrosity of the system, monsters become a potent weapon against it. With new works by Emma Adler, Caroline Douville, Marven Rabe and Milena Wojhan. Curation: Carlotta Gonindard Liebe Exhibition Design: Carolina Redondo Graphic Design: Polina Zagumenova Assistance: Philipp Eyselein