The Weight of Heirlooms: Visual Narratives of Turbulent Times
Nadia Valeska
4–21 DECEMBER

The Weight of Heirlooms: Visual Narratives of Turbulent Times examines the intricate relationship between collective experience and personal history in periods of upheaval. Berlin-based artist Nadia Valeska presents a body of work that interweaves memory, resilience, and the lingering traces of displacement. Drawing from family photographs taken in Germany between the 1930s and 1950s—a time marked by profound social and political transformation—the paintings highlight intimate narratives of perseverance, particularly reflecting on women’s often-overlooked roles in moments of crisis.

Through a combination of oil and mixed media, the artist juxtaposes these private recollections with contemporary depictions of faceless crowds, evoking both the intimacy of individual experience and the anonymity of collective movement. Layered compositions, dynamic textures, and contrasts between somber and luminous tones create a visual rhythm that moves between stillness and momentum, introspection and resistance.

By establishing a dialogue between past and present, the exhibition considers how personal histories intersect with collective memory. It reflects on the tension between unity and individuality, crisis and endurance, belonging and the human capacity to adapt, persist, and find strength amid uncertainty.