Anu Poder's Ghostly Mannequins Haunt Muzeum Susch

The Muzeum Susch in Zernez, Switzerland, founded by Polish entrepreneur Grazyna Kulczyk, continues its mission to rediscover female artists from Central and Eastern Europe with a solo exhibition of Estonian artist Anu Poder (1947–2013), curated by Cecilia Alemani and titled 'Space for my body'. The show features Poder's sculptures made from wax, plaster, resins, soap, textiles, and wood, assembled with embroidery and glue into contorted figures. The first section (1970s–1990s) presents female mannequins and dolls that are bandaged, quilted, and amputated, evoking the inhumanity of war and the passage of time. The second section suspends genderless ghost-like garments from the ceiling, suggesting invisible bodies and denied individuality. A final installation includes an iron cage softened by Kinder eggs and two large steel-wire heads with gaping mouths and pink tongues, silently screaming. Poder's work reflects the uncertainty of Estonian identity under Soviet occupation (1940–1991) and the historical indifference toward women. The exhibition highlights fragility, ephemerality, and the tension between the intimate and the visible body.