The Luminescents have wanted to break homogenizing discourses on women: invisible violence against women and resilience through several books and exhibitions. Two ARGIA collaborators, photographer Irantzu Pastor and journalist Igone Mariezkurrena have created the work “on a slow fire” and “with a great deal of mime”; travel began in 2018 to meet and collect the invisible stories of women. For various reasons (military occupation, poverty, forced displacement, genocides, racism…) 63 women who live or have grown up in contexts of structural violence have been integrated into the Lakota Nation indigenous Reserve EE.UU in Palestine, India. and in the Basque country itself. After four years of self-management of the project, the history of women and these bodies have been published in a book by the editorial Farmacia Negra.

Through the project, the authors have wanted to understand how unnamed forms of violence affect women's lives. Therefore, the testimonies have not been based on conversations through questions and answers, but on the daily experiences and stories of their protagonists, always “with respect for the dignity and humility” of the people portrayed. To Eldiario they stressed that the goal is not to “give voice” to women, as they already have their own voice. They've wanted to focus on the invisible, bring stories to light.

Exposure

The work Lumeniszenteak has been presented next to the book in an exhibition that shows the summaries of the testimonies of the 24 selected women, as well as the series of images. The first stop was held last October at the international film festival Cine Invisible Film Social de Bilbao. From there it is intended to expand the network to other localities.