The Secrets of 'The Unmentionables' – Photography Exhibition in Vienna
- Bánhalmi Norbert
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 10 hours ago
"The Unmentionables" is an old euphemism for underwear.
Deep within a woman's inner world, hidden in the underwear drawer, lives a peculiar collection of objects. They are not merely pieces of fabric, but woven memories and imprints of emotion. Some evoke the lightness of happiness; others carry the weight of pain. Pieces connected to difficult memories can cast a shadow over everyday life, reopening old wounds each time the drawer is opened. Without realising it, a woman can become a prisoner of her own past.
Some pieces conceal even darker stories: the painful memory of losing a child, or the terrible imprint of abuse. A bra, one of the most intimate garments associated with femininity, can sometimes become a silent witness to loss. The last piece worn before a mastectomy may carry the painful memory of a changing body and the shadow of illness.
This subject is deep and complex, and the path toward release is often difficult. Now, however, four people — three artists and one helping professional — have joined forces to support women who are ready to let go of the pain they carry and the memories locked inside these garments, through a special artistic and sacred project.
Twenty women will have the opportunity to take part in this transformative journey, whose aim is complete release. At the centre of the project is an artistic photographic series in which the photographers explore the depths of the female inner world and reveal femininity without boundaries. Genre distinctions dissolve: fashion photography, social documentary photography, artistic nude photography and lingerie photography all become tools for depicting the inner journey.
The other photograph will be exhibited in spring 2026 at a special gallery in Vienna's 1st district.
Before the exhibition, on the evening of the spring/summer solstice, the women will have the opportunity to say a final goodbye to their lingerie during a special bonfire ceremony accompanied by traditional táltos drumming, casting the garments into the fire. This marks the completion of the process of letting go.
How can someone apply and take part in the project? Applicants first complete an online form, which is received by Sára Háden.
This is followed by a personal consultation with Sára, during which the model tells her story in detail. The focus is placed on a positive turning point or a new perspective — precisely the energy that will later become visible in the photograph. During this meeting it is also decided which of the two photographers fate will connect her with. The model draws one of two face-down cards bearing the photographers' names. The selected photographer does not know the model's story and relies on intuition when creating the images.
The photographs are the result of a shared creative process: photographer and model create them together. The photographer supports the model throughout, regardless of body type or age; the aim is always to reveal and capture her most feminine self. Applications for the project open on 1 December 2025, and the photographic series must be completed by March 2026. Participation is completely anonymous; even the models will not know one another.
Discretion is extremely important to us. For that reason, both the exhibition and the book are planned around pseudonyms and faceless images.
A similar project was carried out in Budapest in 2018; you can read about it here:
Participation fee: €299 / person Maximum number of participants: 20
Our artists:
Livia Ayadi Denise Trajkovska
Part of the BANHALMI ecosystem
For the professional context and practical side of portrait photography, visit the BANHALMI professional website. Related art series, books and exhibitions are preserved in the BANHALMI ART archive.