“He grabbed me by the neck and threw me against the wall.”
Celina Schroeder freed herself from a relationship in which she experienced domestic violence. Miriam Suter says the story of the Winterthur resident is a classic case. She has written a book on the subject, which she will present this Thursday in Winterthur.
About the Exhibition – “What Is Healthy” by Sluni
In 2019, Swiss photographer and artist Sluni unveiled her compelling solo exhibition titled “What Is Healthy” in both Zurich (Switzerland) and Rotterdam (The Netherlands). Over the course of a year, she embarked on a deeply personal exploration into the essence of life, questioning what it truly means to be “healthy,” especially in a world that often equates health with perfection. jon-austrone.art
Key Highlights:
- 52 Poignant Works: Sluni presented 52 art pieces that highlight imperfections in nature—cracks in walls, weather-beaten graffiti, a solitary ocean vortex (as a symbol of death), alongside images embodying resilience and survival like a flower blooming in the desert or an ant bearing a leaf twice its size.
- Double Exposure as Symbolism: She combined images of her own bodily scars with scenes from nature, creating double-exposure photographs that symbolize growth, healing, and the intertwined bond between human experience and the natural world.
- A Story of Balance: Central to the exhibition is the idea of balance between what is perceived as “good” and “bad,” and a poignant letting go of the notion that anything can ever be flawless.
- Opening Walk in Rotterdam: A particularly memorable moment of the exhibition was its opening in Rotterdam. Attendees participated in a half-hour walk starting from the north side of the Maastunnel to the exhibition space in the south. Along the route, participants recited parts of Schroeder’s own text—pieces she later left behind—inviting other passersby to discover the culmination of her four-month research journey.
Evolution of the Series:
In 2023, Sluni revisited and expanded “What Is Healthy” at Photobastei in Zurich, offering a mixed-media reinterpretation of the series. This version, renewed with painting, emphasizes the journey of healing—from within outward—and reflects on imagery, trauma, and recovery. It serves as “a tribute to the person who is allowed to grow mentally and spiritually,” challenging societal ideals of scarless beauty and perfection.
In Short:
What Is Healthy
In her 2019 solo exhibition What Is Healthy, Sluni invites viewers on an intimate artistic dialogue about the true nature of healing. Across 52 touching images, she intertwines natural imperfections—such as fractured walls, solitary whirlpools, desert blooms, and ants carrying oversized leaves—with double-exposure portraits featuring her own scars. These images challenge conventional ideals of flawless health, instead embracing vulnerability as part of growth.
The exhibition’s debut in Rotterdam was especially immersive: attendees embarked on a symbolic walk through the Maastunnel, reading aloud Sluni’s reflection as they walked, with each verse left behind as a trace for others to rediscover. In 2023, Sluni reimagined “What Is Healthy” in Zurich’s Photobastei with additional painterly layers—deepening its message of internal healing and honoring the journey of trauma toward emotional and spiritual resilience.