Gentle retreats: Kunsthaus celebrates 10 years of queer-feminism!

Gentle retreats: Kunsthaus celebrates 10 years of queer-feminism!

Things will be colorful and diverse in Cologne in the coming days! The queer-feminist initiative “And She Was Like: BÄM!” invites you to a special event at the Kunsthaus Rhenania on the occasion of its tenth anniversary. Under the title “soft intentions” visitors can discover the creatively designed textile caves designed by the artist Sophia Schach. These caves vary in size, shape, materials and color choices and are ideal for anyone looking for a retreat. The Cologne City Gazette reports that the exhibition will be open from July 18th to August 1st, 2025.

The event not only offers the opportunity to explore the caves, but also to take part in workshops. Here, children and adults are offered whatever their hearts desire: from personal retreats made from blankets, pillows and towels, to readings by authors, to sound performances and live concerts. The aim is to create awareness of topics such as emotionality, empathy and mindfulness. The motto of the event couldn't be more appropriate: It's time to celebrate vulnerability and slowness.

Diverse workshop offerings

In addition to the creative workshops as part of the exhibition, the initiative is organizing a series of highly interesting offers that can also take place online. According to that Quix Collective There is already a well-thought-out portfolio of workshops that deal with topics such as gender identities, racism and intersectional education. For example, participants can ask “Do you want to go with me?” delve into the basics of queer-feminist education or with “Male, female and nothing else?” learn more about gender identities.

Individual adaptations of the workshops are possible, which means that everyone interested - be it as a student, in the context of volunteer work or as a trainer - has the chance to get actively involved. This flexibility is also reflected in the “Diversity in the Classroom” offering, which aims at intersectional pedagogy.

A look at the history of queer feminism

For a better understanding of current developments, it is worth taking a look at the history of queer feminism. From the 1980s onwards, women's experiences of discrimination became the focus of West German women's movements. A critical confrontation with an overly white, Eurocentric feminism was raised, especially by marginalized groups such as migrants and black women. Audre Lorde, an African-American feminist, questioned the visibility of black people within the women's movement and called for self-organization because existing structures often ignored discriminatory experiences. The intersectional approach, which gained much influence in the 1990s, criticized the rigid gender binary and the marginalization of queer and trans-identified people, as on Digital German Women's Archive can be read.

The “soft intentions” event at the Kunsthaus Rhenania not only combines creativity and community, but is also in a historically and socially relevant context. The members of “And She Was Like: BÄM!” are committed to self-determination, equality and solidarity in society and cordially invite everyone to become part of this inspiring experience. Admission is free and donations are requested to continue the work of the initiative.

Visit the exhibition at the Kunsthafen/Kunsthaus Rhenania, Bayenstraße 28, 50678 Cologne, and let yourself be enchanted by the creative and thoughtful offerings! The exact opening times can also be found on the Kunsthafen website: www.kunsthafen.com.