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Gabrielle Goliath's Personal Accounts at MoMA PS1 foregrounds bodily expression over speech in trauma testimony

exhibition · 2026-04-19

Gabrielle Goliath, a South African artist, showcases her ongoing video series, Personal Accounts, at MoMA PS1 until March 16, 2026. This installation addresses patriarchal violence through nuanced physical expressions rather than verbal narratives, drawing inspiration from collaborators in Johannesburg, Kyiv, Italy, and Scotland. Curated by Ruba Katrib, the exhibition invites visitors to move slowly through the galleries, where sound and rhythm enhance the immersive atmosphere. Goliath's work aligns with global conversations about trauma, echoing Nan Goldin's retrospective at Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan. By prioritizing presence over storytelling, the exhibition transforms silence into a form of testimony, challenging traditional credibility hierarchies and encouraging a deeper connection with often-ignored expressions of resilience.

Key facts

  • Gabrielle Goliath's Personal Accounts exhibition runs at MoMA PS1 until March 16, 2026
  • The video series explores patriarchal violence across continents through bodily expressions
  • Collaborators from Johannesburg, Kyiv, Italy, and Scotland co-author the work
  • Curator Ruba Katrib structures the installation for slow, attentive movement
  • The work foregrounds breaths, sighs, laughter, and tremors over spoken testimony
  • Sound and rhythm create immersive experience with loops of breath and vocalizations
  • The exhibition parallels Nan Goldin's retrospective at Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan
  • Goliath's method transforms silence into urgent testimony and positions body as knowledge site

Entities

Artists

  • Gabrielle Goliath
  • Nan Goldin

Institutions

  • MoMA PS1
  • Pirelli HangarBicocca
  • Aesthetica Magazine

Locations

  • Johannesburg
  • South Africa
  • Kyiv
  • Ukraine
  • Italy
  • Scotland
  • United Kingdom
  • Milan

Sources