Exhibition RITUALS/MATERIALS 2023
From June 7th to June 16th, 2023, the exhibition RITUALS / MATERIALS took place at the Ex-Mattatoio, Department of Architecture of the University of Roma Tre. This exhibition provides an opportunity to reflect on religious coexistence in the modern city through a site-specific installation created by the Berlin-based architecture studio KUEHN MALVEZZI and photographer Armin Linke, in collaboration with Claudia Professione and Greta Valentinotti. The installation is made possible thanks to the assistance of students from the University's Department of Architecture.
The installation consists of over 700 images that depict the House of One, a multi-faith building designed by KUEHN MALVEZZI currently under construction in Berlin. The images are arranged in a non-hierarchical and non-chronological manner, forming a narrative that visually conveys the development and design process of the building. Furthermore, it encourages a reconsideration of the methods of dialogue, integration, and coexistence among the three monotheistic communities residing in the city. Acting as the pieces of a cognitive mosaic, the images in RITUALS / MATERIALS describe a layered and intricate operational map, providing visitors with a sense of the complex journey involved in this extraordinary project, conveyed through various authorial voices. By employing abstraction, the images serve as a representation of Berlin as a paradigm for the contemporary city. This model acknowledges the impact of migratory movements and increasing globalization on the urban landscape, transforming it into a multifaceted and diverse organism.
The initiative received excellent public participation from students, experts, architects, and religious leaders and generated significant media interest. Furthermore, it served as a starting point for a seminar on “shared religious spaces”, promoted by the École Française d’Athènes at the Department of Humanistic Studies of Roma Tre. The cultural initiative proved to be a success, stimulating debate and reflection on interre-ligious dialogue at various levels of engagement.
RITUALS/MATERIALS, curated by Eleonora D'Alessandro, was made possible through a collaboration between the Department of Architecture and the Department of Humanistic Studies at the University of Roma Tre, in conjunction with the ISIA of Urbino. The exhibition has received support from Villa Massimo and has been endorsed by the Department of Culture of the Municipality of Rome and the Interreligious Table of Rome.