Visual Impact of Feminist Protest

I always thought it was normal

Lelóu Sprachta (*1999) is an illustrator, painter, and comic artist known for her analog techniques, autobiographical storytelling, and often feminist themes. Her comic “Ich dachte lange, das wär normal” (“I Always Thought It Was Normal”) was created in collaboration with the feminist collective “X Pistol Squad” during the summer of 2022 at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design. Aimed at young people and adults, it explores “sexualized violence in everyday life” and is based on personal accounts from affected individuals. The comic seeks to raise awareness of this issue, encourage people to speak out, and empower them through shared voices.

The comic addresses how sexualized violence, frequently experienced by women and queer individuals, is often trivialized or dismissed as “harmless.” By presenting these experiences, the comic illustrates that even small incidents of harassment deserve attention and resistance. It’s aim is to encourage readers to shed the passive role of “victim” and openly discuss these issues.

Visual Impact
Visually, each experience is portrayed in a unique style, from color to black-and-white, using diverse techniques like ink, pencil, and wax crayons. To deepen the impact, some of the illustrations were also sewn and painted onto fabric, culminating in a powerful quilt artwork that adds a tactile, communal dimension to the project. This varied approach, including the quilt, conveys the emotional depth of each story and makes the topic of everyday sexualized violence even more visible and immediate for the audience. The comic invites reflection, challenges social norms, and seeks to inspire long-term change by creating a space for feminist empowerment.

“Ich dachte lange, das wär normal”  2022, Comic Cover by Lelóu Sprachta.
©Lelóu Sprachta

“Ah, that’s happened to me so many times as well!”
Excerpt from the Comic “Ich dachte lange, das wär normal” 2022, by Lelóu Sprachta. ©Lelóu Sprachta

“Lauri and Friend” 2022, quilt art by Lelóu Sprachta.
©Lelóu Sprachta

“Luckily, I had my dog with me.”
Excerpt from the Comic “Ich dachte lange, das wär normal” 2022, by Lelóu Sprachta. ©Lelóu Sprachta

“I just wanted to run away.”
Excerpt from the Comic “Ich dachte lange, das wär normal” 2022, by Lelóu Sprachta. ©Lelóu Sprachta

“But if I’m not really in danger, then why do I feel this panic?”
Excerpt from the Comic “Ich dachte lange, das wär normal” 2022, by Lelóu Sprachta. ©Lelóu Sprachta

“Ich dachte lange, das wär normal”  2022, Comic by Lelóu Sprachta.
©Lelóu Sprachta

“Ich dachte lange, das wär normal”  2022, Comic by Lelóu Sprachta.
©Lelóu Sprachta

21st Century Germany Storytelling Awareness Raising Artistic Display Comic Illustration Paintings Textiles Empowerment Sexual Violence Visibility Stop Harassment
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