Hannah Arendt’s postwar publication Vita activa attempts to understand the political following the crises of 20th century totalitarianism. Her notions remain contemporary and crucial serving as reminders of human individuality located in a communal world and the importance of democratic ideals. In her study of the state of modern humanity Hannah Arendt considers human kind from the perspective of the actions of which it is capable. She is preeminently the theorist of beginnings: reflections of the human capacity to start something new pervade her thinking. Ever since Plato turned his back on Athenian democracy and set out his scheme for an ideal city, political philosophers had been writing about politics in a way that systematically ignored the most salient political features of human beings – that they are plural, that each of them is capable of new perspectives and new actions. 

Through the lens of the female gaze (Hartvig in black and white, Prášilová in colors) the photographers offer a nuanced and intimate portrayal of womanhood, challenging traditional representations and reclaiming narratives that have often been overlooked, misrepresented or even actively repressed. The exhibition showcases a curated selection of photographic works that address a wide range of themes, from motherhood, identity and self-perception and body politics to community engagement.