Angry spaghetti sauce: art campaign against femicide in Vienna!

Angry spaghetti sauce: art campaign against femicide in Vienna!

The exhibition “FRAU* Creates Space” opens on Nußdorfer Straße in Vienna and can be seen from September 11th to December 9th. This extraordinary installation, designed by the artist Ana Halina Ringleb under the title “Speis”, addresses female anger in the form of spicy spaghetti sauce. The focus is on a memorial for a tragic story: the murder of a 35-year-old tobacconist in 2021. The aim of the exhibition is to remember the tobacconist and all women who lost their lives due to male violence. According to meinkreis.at, there were ten murders of women and 16 attempted murders in Austria in 2023 alone.

During the vernissage, district leader Saya Ahmad (SPÖ) emphasized the associated challenges and the need to make society aware of this problem. The use of “Arabiata,” an angry hot sauce, is symbolic of society’s devaluation of female emotions, particularly anger. This achievement, made visible through art, is intended to raise awareness of violence against women and initiate dialogue.

A place of remembrance

The “Ni-Una-Menos Square” was set up in the immediate vicinity of the exhibition, an action that opposes femicide. The initiative was created during a first kick-off event on June 3, 2022, organized by the Greens in cooperation with Ni-Una-Menos Austria and the Green Women Vienna. This event featured workshops, art installations and a parade with drummers to the tobacco shop. A minute's silence in front of Nadine's Trafik marked the emotional climax of the program, which left a lasting impression even in retrospect.

The founder of Ni-Una-Menos Austria, Natalia Hurst, initiated a petition to name the square, which collected 500 signatures within just three weeks. This petition led to an application in the Petitions Committee of the Vienna City Council, which brought more attention to the issue. The square will be equipped with benches that have been made inviting by a creative painting project by the Alsergrund district council.

Statistical backgrounds

The problem of violence against women in Austria is recognizable and alarming. According to information from a survey on gender-based violence against women, it appears that such attacks occur disproportionately frequently. This survey, commissioned by Eurostat and the Federal Chancellery, highlights various forms of violence, including stalking and sexual harassment in the workplace. With this data, Statistik.at supports the need for preventative measures.

There are numerous offers of help available in Vienna to support women in need. The 24-hour women's emergency number can be reached on 01/12 345. Other important telephone numbers are the Vienna Women's Shelter hotline on 05 77 22 and the women's helpline on 0800/222 555. There is also a special help service for deaf or hearing-impaired people via SMS on 0800/133 133.

The “Speis” exhibition and the Ni-Una-Menos-Platz represent important initiatives that want to create awareness of this burning issue in Vienna and encourage a social rethink. Art and active citizens have their finger on the pulse here and contribute to change - because something is happening.