SEIN. ANTLITZ. KÖRPER.

Website sein-antlitz-koerper.de

“Driven by the question of just how atheistic, how cosmopolitan and how spiritual the German capital is, curator Alexander Ochs is currently curating no fewer than 11 exhibitions in various places of worship across Berlin. In a city where people from over 180 nations live together, where a large proportion of the population considers itself atheist, but where religions such as Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism have established themselves just as firmly as Christianity and Judaism. Supported above all by Georg Maria Roers SJ, the arts representative of the Archdiocese of Berlin, he brings together artists, curators, musicians, clergy of all denominations and religions, visitors, guests, chance passers-by, believers and atheists. Last year, he had already delivered a compelling showcase with the exhibition at Berlin Cathedral, “Du sollst Dir (k)ein Bild machen”, which attracted over 60,000 visitors.” Michaela Kühn in conversation with Alexander Ochs

SEIN.ANTLITZ.KÖRPER. is the title of an eleven-part exhibition series funded by Monika Grütters, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, as part of the ‘The Reformation and One World’ programme, by the churches themselves, and by other partners. SEIN.ANTLITZ.KÖRPER. comprises eleven exhibition venues: nine Berlin churches, including Berlin Cathedral, as well as the Stiftung Neue Synagoge Berlin-Centrum Judaicum, are participating in the project until December 2016. The project kicks off on 13 March 2016 with exhibitions and interventions at Berlin Cathedral and St Thomas Aquinas Church, featuring works by Joseph Beuys, Leiko Ikemura, Richard Long, Micha Ullman, Ai Weiwei and others. Further exhibitions will follow throughout the year. On Reformation Day, 31 October 2016, the Berlin Cathedral parish, together with Palestinian, Israeli and Berlin-based artists and the Schola of the Berlin Cathedral Choir, will ‘relocate’ to the Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem.

The exhibition series is organised by the newly founded non-profit organisation CIRCLES – ART + CULTURE IN DIALOGUE WITH RELIGIONS, in cooperation with all participating churches and the Centrum Judaicum. The group’s board includes Protestant and Catholic Christians, as well as agnostics, members of the Jewish faith and figures with an Islamic background. The Catholic Academy will reflect on the events through four panel discussions featuring prominent speakers.

credits:
Photo Luther: Alexander Ochs
Joseph Beuys, Für Fußwaschung, 1977, 9,8 cm x 35,6 cm, Emailschüssel, beschriftet, Courtesy Museum am Dom, Würzburg, Foto: Thomas Obermeier
Leiko Ikemura, Der Schrei, Terrakotta, glasiert, ca. 90cm, Courtesy: Leiko Ikemura, Foto: Marcus Schneider
Concept Frontpage: Frederik Foert