A curtain made of red strings, with two red chairs in front of it on the left of the picture

Hidden Gems: A ‘bloodstain’ at the Museum of European Cultures

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Hidden Gems with Sofia Botvinnik, research assistant at the Museum of European Cultures

How long have you been working at the SPK, and what are your responsibilities?

I have been a research assistant at the Museum of European Cultures since 2020. Over the last few years, I have implemented a wide variety of exhibition projects there. I particularly enjoy creating hands-on stations where visitors can help shape the exhibition: for example, in the exhibition ALL HANDS ON: Braiding, where visitors can try their hand at braiding using giant foam rolls, amongst other things. Or in Läuft. The exhibition on menstruation. There, visitors can try on historical menstrual underwear and share their stories about menstruation with others in letters.

 

What is your favourite spot in the SPK and what do you most enjoy doing there?

My favourite spot is an oversized bloodstain in the exhibition “Läuft” here at the MEK. That might sound strange at first, but it’s a key moment in the exhibition: behind a curtain of red strings, alongside books on menstruation in many languages, there are also two media stations featuring videos of over a dozen people. There, they share their very personal views and experiences of menstruation: we conducted numerous interviews whilst preparing the exhibition, and everyone had their own story. That’s what I find so special about this place!

Behind a curtain of red strings, alongside books on menstruation in many languages, there are also two media stations showing videos
A highlight of the exhibition: the "Bloodstain". Photo: SPK / Killisch
a curtain made of red strings and two red chairs on the left of the picture
A curtain made of red strings conceals not only literature on the subject of menstruation but also two media stations. Photo: SPK / Killisch
A woman is sitting in front of a monitor wearing headphones and watching a video
In these videos, people share their very personal perspectives and experiences of menstruation. Photo: SPK / Killisch
A woman sitting in front of a touchscreen monitor. She taps the screen.
In preparation for the exhibition, the curators conducted numerous interviews, which can be accessed here. Photo: SPK / Killisch

Hidden Gems

In the 'Hidden Gems' series, SPK staff introduce themselves and reveal their (more or less) secret favourite spots within the Foundation.

It’s on. The exhibition on menstruation at the Museum of European Cultures in Dahlem runs until 6 October 2024.

Fancy becoming part of the SPK family? You can find all current job vacancies across the Foundation on LinkedIn.

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