John Borowski, a recognized expert on serial killers who grew up in Chicago’s Northwest Side and now resides in Lincoln Square, is prominently involved in “Serial Killer: The Exhibition,” an extensive and detailed display located at Cinespace, a large film and television production facility in North Lawndale. The exhibition, which opened in early September and runs into January, occupies approximately 40,000 square feet and comprises more than 40 carefully designed rooms that explore the history and psychology of serial killers.
Borowski, a writer and filmmaker known for his work on infamous criminals such as H.H. Holmes, explained that public interest in serial killers has grown over recent decades, partly due to increased media attention including shows like “Mindhunter.” He noted that while true crime content remains controversial, it has become more accessible and mainstream compared to earlier decades when such subject matter was largely taboo.
The exhibition has attracted visitors from across the country, including a group spotted from Tennessee on a recent morning. It previously drew large crowds in European cities like London, Rome, Paris, Milan, and Berlin, as well as in Atlanta, where its popularity extended its scheduled run. The reasons behind the widespread fascination with serial killers are varied, with some experts suggesting that humans seek to understand the nature of evil and abnormal behavior, while others point to the role of media in fueling curiosity and engagement.
Bill Kimberlin, an author featured in the exhibition’s catalog, remarked on the ethical complexities involved in true crime fascination. He acknowledged the potential for unhealthy obsession but emphasized the exhibition’s educational value in shedding light on criminal psychology and behaviors, thereby contributing to public awareness.
Among the killers featured are notorious figures like Jack the Ripper, Ted Bundy, Richard Ramirez, and local Chicago criminals such as H.H. Holmes, Jeffrey Dahmer, and John Wayne Gacy. The exhibition also introduces lesser-known offenders from around the world, including Leonarda Cianciulli, known as the “soap-maker of Correggio,” Fritz Haarmann, the “Butcher of Hanover,” and Issei Sagawa, labeled the “Japanese Cannibal.” Female serial killers receive less representation but include individuals like Elizabeth Báthory, known as the “Blood Countess,” and Aileen Wuornos, whose story inspired the Oscar-winning film “Monster.”
Artifacts on display range from Dahmer’s glasses and paintings by Gacy to items such as a gas chamber replica, an electric chair, Wuornos’s gym shoes, and tools linked to torture. The exhibition includes multimedia components such as videos and virtual reality experiences, presenting approximately 150 killers and numerous victims through photographs and hundreds of artifacts.
Borowski expressed his commitment to continuing his documentary work on real-life crimes, emphasizing that true crime’s impact often surpasses that of fictional horror. He also noted the growing knowledge of serial killers among younger generations, indicating a sustained interest in the topic.
Visitors are advised that the exhibit requires about 90 minutes to fully experience. While the motivations for attendance vary, some seek insight into criminal minds, others may be drawn by cultural curiosity, and some, as one college student candidly shared, view it as a source of creative inspiration for events like Halloween.