Budapest Memorial for Wartime Rape Victims: Interview with Edit András

Budapest is developing a counter-monument, 'Memory of Rape in Wartimes: Women as Victims of Sexual Violence,' initiated by the General Assembly in January 2020 and set for completion in spring 2023. The project, led by art historian Edit András, aims to commemorate female victims of wartime sexual violence through an open, democratic process involving artists, historians, and an international jury. It contrasts with the Hungarian government's nationalist monument practices under Fidesz. The memorial's scope extends beyond WWII to all wartime sexual violence, rejecting nationalist narratives. An international blind call for artists closed October 15, 2021, with 35 proposals. The jury includes James E. Young and Milića Tomić. Five potential sites on Buda side are offered. The project includes a website, lectures, and an exhibition at Kiscelli Museum. András emphasizes artists as agents of social healing.