„Washerwoman“ Expanded: Stories of Power, Art, and Global Asymmetries

On May 20, the Weltmuseum Wien and the Austrian Commission for UNESCO are hosting an event on the question of which art becomes visible - and why. Based on Shannon Alonzo's sculpture “Washerwoman”, experts from the fields of art, science and culture will discuss power structures in the art world and the role of institutions as catalysts for social change.

Which artists and artworks are most visible in the public sphere is often not a matter of merit, but rather a question of power. Artists who belong to historically privileged groups (white, cis, heterosexual, male, able-bodied and middle-class) still seem to occupy the majority of exhibition spaces and stages. When museums shine a light on the oeuvre of artists from the so-called “Global South”, such engagement appears only sporadically; the overall dynamics of visibility in the art world remain largely unchanged. Who currently shapes prevailing narratives? In what context are they communicated? What can individuals and institutions concretely do to counteract existing inequalities and act as catalysts for societal change?

These are the themes of the event on 20 May at the Weltmuseum Wien.
Based on Shannon Alonzo’s mixed-media sculpture “Washerwoman” (exhibition opening: 15 May 2025, Theseustempel), Shannon Alonzo, Magdalena Buchczyk, Rina Alluri and Hanin Hannouch will discuss how artistic, curatorial and craft practices can make both historical and contemporary power structures visible and subject them to critical scrutiny. At the centre of the discussion is the significance and responsibility of the actors and institutions that shape knowledge and narratives – from museums and universities to organisations such as UNESCO. Concrete contributions from the panelists will illustrate how these institutions can counteract existing inequalities and serve as catalysts for societal change.

Programme

Artist Talk with Shannon Alonzo
Moderated by: Hanin Hannouch, Weltmuseum Vienna

Panel Discussion with

Shannon Alonzo, Artist
Hanin Hannouch, Curator, Weltmuseum Wien
Magdalena Buchczyk, Humboldt University, Berlin
Rina Alluri, UNESCO Chair for Peace Studies, University of Innsbruck

Moderated by: Claudia Isep, Austrian Commission for UNESCO

Location: Ballroom of the Weltmuseum Wien
Date/Time: May 20, 2025, 19:00-21:00
To participate in the event, all guests need a valid museum ticket (or an annual ticket, a KHM-Membership, a Kulturpass or a membership of the Weltmuseum Wien Friends).

Registration to event: https://mailworx.marketingsuite.info/Form?frm=8c5bc29e-65d0-4105-968e-7e1146ae8b09

The event will be held in English. A graphic recording will also be produced to visually capture the content.