SAAL Biennaal 2021: Laura Stašāne, Jana Jacuka “Physical Evidence Museum”

We were told that silence is golden. We learned it’s not and it has not been for very long.
Every third woman in Latvia and every fourth in Estonia has experienced violence at home. More than 80% of cases are never reported and only women know what happened. But it’s not a secret anybody should carry alone.

“Physical Evidence Museum” is an exhibition in an ordinary Tallinn apartment made of everyday things that have been collected with the help of many women in Estonia and Latvia. All the objects on display are witnesses of domestic violence yet they would never be accepted as credible evidence in court or police.

As part of the exhibition, a public reading marathon of personal stories will take place, presented by survivors, their friends and supporters.
The museum collection is in progress and any woman with a personal story is invited to donate it to the museum.

Dance artist Jana Jacuka and dramaturg Laura Stašāne started to explore the subject of domestic violence in Latvia in 2019 and this is their second piece together. Jana is a performance artist and choreographer, who also works in theatre. Laura did festival and production work before turning to dramaturgy.

Creators: Laura Stašāne (), Jana Jacuka
Producers: Laura Stašāne, Jana Jacuka, New Theatre Institute of Latvia
Set designer/ artist:
Sound and video: Mikk-Mait Kivi
Photographers: Liene Eicēna, Andrejs Strokins, Laura Stašāne
Museum assistants:
Co-funded by: "Magic Carpets" platform of the Creative Europe programme
Tallinn version residency support: Nordic-Baltic Mobility ProgrammePremiere: September 2020 e Homo Novus festival, Riga
In Estonian and English

• Exhibition is open form 23-27.08 16:00-20:00.
• 24h public reading marathon of personal stories will take place from 12:00 on 28.08 til 12:00 on 29.08.
  Tickets both for the exhibition and reading marathon available on presale at Fienta and at the door.
• Entrance in live queue

Location: Vana-Kalamaja 16.
Starting from 26.08 a valid corona pass is needed to visit the exhibition!