Z-Files 33: A Minute of Shelter

Sculpture International Rotterdam and BKOR organize the 33rd edition of Z-Files is celebrating the recent unveiling of Narges Mohammadi's A Minute of Shelter (2025) memorial. This artwork on Coolsingel draws attention to women and girls who are, have been, or will soon find themselves in unsafe situations. The sculpture was commissioned by the City of Rotterdam in collaboration with Sculpture International Rotterdam, following the tragic 2018 murder of sixteen-year-old Rotterdam schoolgirl Humeyra.

This edition of Z-Files takes the unveiling of "A Minute of Shelter" as a starting point for a deeper conversation against the backdrop of the current debate about the safety and visibility of women in both personal and public spaces. Drawing on artistic and social practices, as well as feminist art and architectural theory, we will discuss the significance of visual art in this context. How can visual art in public spaces contribute to understanding the position of women in the city? How can personal experiences and social structures be made visible?