The Mouth is for Speaking

The Mouth is for Speaking brings together contemporary positions that deal with the issue of human rights, especially freedom of expression.

Freedom and human rights give individuals a voice. But many still lack the opportunity to put their problems into words and thus to free themselves from grievances. Today, simply opening a newspaper reveals the profound fractures in societies around the world.However, we also witness protests in which individuals tackle problems together and successfully stand up for human rights.Quoting cultural critic and writer Olivia Laing, "The mouth is for speaking, how do you speak if no one’s listening, how do you speak if your voice is prohibited, or no one understands your tongue?" Laing advocates the right of having a voice and be heard. The artists in the exhibition reveal cracks that can no longer be overlooked. Their powerful works tell stories of individuals, their experience, and their search for identity. Together they show that these journeys are not singular events but the narrative of so many.