“Dear Anna” Photos: Ursula Scherrer©2025. LEGS. Le Ventre, the old Synagogue. Hégenheim / FR.
The performance took place in the Old Synagogue in Hégenheim, France. At the beginning, I read out a letter that I had written to Anna Tumarkin. Tumarkin was a young Belarusian Jew who came to Bern to study philosophy at the age of 17 in 1892. I wove in some stories from my own life, drawing parallels with and highlighting differences to Anna’s story. For example, I talked about moving from the south to Mexico City to study political science, and then moving to Switzerland.
Afterwards, I gave balloons printed with a world map to the audience.
The performance was dedicated to all women around the world who have had to migrate from their home countries. In joining together, we came to share and symbolise this act of solidarity with everyone affected by migration.
©maricruz peñaloza 2026. All rights reserved. Total or partial reproduction of the texts or photos is expressly prohibited. All rights belong to the artist, both the texts and the photographs.
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