Pioneering women of the 1920s – artistic research from the Modeschule Berlin at the JMB
Public presentation as part of the exhibition Defiance: Jewish Women and Design in the Modern Era
For six months, budding designers at the Berlin Fashion School have been intensively studying Jewish women designers of the modern era. To what extent can references to their biographies, life realities and works be established - and expressed? With this question in mind, today's fashion designers have artistically explored the pioneers of the 1920s.
In the context of the exhibition, each student at the Modeschule Berlin conducted artistic research on a female modernist designer, supported by artist and educator Adi Liraz. In their search for links between then and now, they have created a work that presents what moves them today, here and now.
The fashion designers from the Modeschule Berlin present their results in video works, pictures, sculptures, performances, texts and/or in dialog. Their work will also be on display in the Lotte Kaliski Room until 20 July 2025.
Defiance: Jewish Women and Design in the Modern Era
Exhibition Webpage
Defiance: Jewish Women and Design in the Modern Era (11 Jul to 23 Nov 2025): visual and audio resources relating to the exhibition and information in German Sign Language
Publications
Exhibition catalog: 2025, in German
Digital Content
- Jewish Women and Design in the Modern Era: All biographies at a glance
- Jewish Places: Important places where the Jewish designers lived and worked on our interactive map
- Do you know Eva Samuel?: How the research for the exhibition took off
- Small Puppets – Strong Women: community project accompanying the exhibition (in German)
- Objects from the exhibition in our collection online in German
See also
- Paper doll based on a costume design by Dodo (1907–1998): Create your own movable paper doll!
- Beaded bracelet based on a design by Emma Trietsch (1876–1933): Make your own beaded bracelet!
- Fashion paper doll based on designs by Irene Saltern (1911–2005): Dress your own fashion paper doll!
- Jewish Women Ceramists from Germany after 1933: Online feature on Google Arts & Culture, in German
