“Lesbians” by Lena Kunz 

4-21.12

Exhibition Opening 3.12  17:00 

Myymälä2 proudly presents “Lesbian”, a pair of photographs from Lena Kunz’s ongoing photographic series. Through this project, she explores the visibility and representation of lesbian identity by creating group portraits of women and non-binary individuals she met in Berlin. The series promises to examine how lesbian communities continue to build visible, inclusive spaces that exist beyond nightlife and consumer-driven culture, and also, this photography project intends to present a distinct lesbian perspective within the field of photography, while also drawing inspiration from Kunz’s personal journey and exploration of identity.

 “I became interested in photographing groups of lesbians as I came out myself at the age of 32 myself and I thought, why this late? As I grew up in what I felt was, very open environment, I didn’t understand it. But I didn’t see this representation of lesbians growing up.”

One could argue that the photos also contribute a sociological dimension, Kunz’s work sheds light on how homophobia and misogyny still influence both public perceptions of lesbians and their lived experiences in personal and social contexts. These challenges are further compounded by economic inequality, as the gender pay gap and limited funding opportunities often restrict the scope of community initiatives and cultural projects.

The series also highlights the importance of solidarity and support from both queer and non-queer communities in strengthening the lesbian scene and fostering a deeper sense of connection and belonging. Because spaces for lesbians to meet and identify one another remain scarce, Kunz believes that creating such visual narratives could be an act of both resistance and empowerment. In that sense, Kunz envisions this project as the foundation for a long-term exploration of lesbian identity, community, and visibility.

BIO

Lena Kunz is an artist working with photography and performance, living in Hamburg and Helsinki. Her work deals with gender identity and power as social constructs. She focuses on what remains hidden in social structures – on the invisible, the restrained, the repressed. In her work, which involves using her own body, she also explores states of closeness, touch, and self-relationship. In both approaches, she examines how power, identity and intimacy intertwine and how strength is formed from the acceptance of vulnerability. Lena Kunz recent exhibition include: In her Hands, Bucerius Kunstforum Hamburg (2025); 570 km, Museum Sztuki, Łódź, Poland (2025); Škuc Gallery, Ljubljana, Slovenia, (2025); Die Zukunft gehört den Pilzen, Künstlerhaus Lauenburg, Germany (2023); and Not now, Schaufenster Berlin (2022) She is a scholarship holder of the German National Academic Foundation.

https://lenakunz.com/

https://www.instagram.com/lenakunzx/