“Die Erinnerung an meine Kindheit” is a story about transformation and healing, the author's very personal journey to his own heart and to a self worthy of love and life. The publication was created in collaboration with the designer Clemens Schedler and provides an insight into the autobiographical analysis of traumatic experiences of childhood abuse. It was only decades later, while experiencing growing signs of depression and isolation, that Laurent Ziegler was able to engage with the painful recollections of these events. Through daily therapeutic practices, the author captured memories in paintings, drawings, text and photography in order to give the unspeakable a name and a form.

The author's biography is not an isolated case. As their lone companion, shame separates the victims from a good, self-determined life, even after years of suffering. Laurent Ziegler hopes that “Die Erinnerung an meine Kindheit” can show the level of suffering—through abuse and especially ritual abuse—in our society and that this collective silence becomes an open dialogue. The afterword is written by Manfred Nowak, co-founder of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Human Rights, Secretary General of the Global Campus of Human Rights and Head of the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty.

EDITION

A facsimile print on fine art paper is available in the format 30 x 45 cm, together with two limited editions of the book (25 copies each), signed and numbered, in a hand-made paper cassette.

This publication was generously supported by the RD Foundation Vienna and Bildrecht GmbH and the following institutions|private persons:

Bundesministerium Kunst, Kultur, öffentlicher Dienst und Sport
European Association for Holotropic Breathwork®–Austria
KJA Kinder- und Jugendanwaltschaft Wien
KSvf Künstler-Sozialversicherungsfonds
Manfred Blümel
Christian Findeisen
Richard Granzer
Lukas Haffner
Sophie Haslinger
Marlene Heinrich
Jelena Kopanja
Mirjam Morad
Nora Neuwirth
Sabine Parzer
Eva Sator
Barbara Sidoti
Renate Woditschka