Space and religion
Design and organization of an exhibition
Krems | Berlin | Wroclaw
2005 - 2006
Introduction to the exhibition
The exhibition "Space and Religion" is dedicated to religious architecture in Europe since 1989 and was presented to a broad public in both Berlin and Wroclaw. It examines developments in church and synagogue construction and their relationship to social issues in a period described as "post-secular", "post-communist" or "new-religious".
Overview and goals
Initiated by the Lower Austria ORTE architecture network in cooperation with the Architecture Museum in Wroclaw and the Matthäus Foundation in Berlin, the ecumenical exhibition was launched in 2005. It showed the current state of sacred building and addressed the cultural identity of Europe, with particular emphasis on the Judeo-Christian heritage. The aim was to raise awareness of religious traditions and their significance for European society. Visitors were given insights into the common foundations of European culture and religion through national and denominational perspectives.
Renaissance of the sacred building
A central theme of the exhibition was the resurgence of church architecture in connection with the growing tendency to look to religious traditions for guidance on complex social issues. This correlation between architecture and the social search for orientation opened up new perspectives on the influence of religion in modern Europe.
Public interest and professional response
The exhibition was not only well received by church and architecture experts, but also reached a wide audience. It stimulated a discussion about the significance of religious buildings in today's world and promoted public interest in sacred architecture and its social relevance.
Exhibition venues and schedule
The exhibition started on November 27, 2005 in the Kunsthalle Krems and was shown there until February 2005. It then moved on to St. Agnes Church in Berlin (March to May 2005) and finally to the Architecture Museum in Wroclaw (June to August 2006).
Catalog accompanying the exhibition
A comprehensive catalog documents twelve outstanding church buildings from Germany, Poland and Austria. In addition, around 60 important buildings and formative design elements that have had a significant influence on sacred building in Europe are presented. The catalog serves as an in-depth supplement to the exhibition and illustrates the main themes of contemporary sacred architecture.
