“Images of Protest” Exhibition Opens at HSG

On Thursday, 22 October 2026, the Institute of Political Science (IPW-HSG) at the University of St.Gallen celebrated the opening of “Images of Protest – Politics, Media and the Visual Archive.” The well-attended vernissage brought together guests to discover the works of Monika Huber and Jon Bierman and engage in discussions with artist Monika Huber, who attended the opening in person, about her work and the role of photography in documenting political and social developments.

Initiated by Prof. James W. Davis, the exhibition brings together two distinct artistic approaches to protest movements, political conflict and social change, creating a dialogue between art, media representation and political science research.

Two Perspectives on a Changing World

Since 2010, artist Monika Huber has been working with news images broadcast by Western television stations. In her ongoing project Archiv EINSDREISSIG, she collects and artistically transforms images of protests, political upheaval and violent conflicts. Her work examines how events are represented through the media, perceived by the public and preserved in collective memory.

Photographer Jon Bierman takes a more direct documentary approach. His photographs capture people and moments during political protests, offering a personal perspective on the events as they unfold.

The exhibition combines printed photographs with digital elements. Visitors can also explore part of Monika Huber's archive through the digital data portal of the ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, searching for images, locations and events using keywords.

Images: University of St.Gallen (HSG) / Leon Obrecht