Invitation to the exhibition "Mosques in Germany"

The Vienna Center for Architecture Az W will present a unique photo report on the world of mosques in Germany. Photos from the lens of Wilfried Dechau will be on display in Vienna from September 5 to 21. Visitors to Az W will not only see ordinary photographs of architecture with its aesthetic atmosphere, but rather the result of a documentary approach that captures the mosque in the context of the community and the men, women, and children in these places. Dechau enables viewers to enter spaces that remain otherwise closed to the public through his photographs. The exhibition features eight mosques, with the spectrum ranging from a building converted from a former car repair shop in Karlsruhe to an audacious new construction in Penzberg. The exhibition documents a long history of immigration. The display includes models and plans for new mosques.

On the day of the opening, Friday, September 4, a symposium and panel discussion titled "Mosques Today: Building Tasks and Socio-Political Responsibility" will take place. The long-discussed mosque is expected to open in the Lower Austrian spa town of Bad Vöslau. This will be only the third building of its kind in Austria. In contrast, Germany is experiencing a literal boom, with 184 mosques under construction or planned. In every controversy, an important fact is often overlooked: that Muslims themselves prefer dignified buildings for their meetings and places of worship instead of special spaces in tucked-away courtyards and abandoned factory halls. This is closely related to the fact that the transparency of architecture affects the public and its perception. The unique program will be inaugurated by Dietmar Steiner, director of the Vienna Center for Architecture. The project was created with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Vienna.

Contributions to the topic will be presented by:
Christian Welzbacher - Art historian and writer, Munich, Germany
Azra Aksamija - Architectural historian and artist, MIT Cambridge, USA
Hüsnü Yegenoglu - Architect, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Sabine Kroissebrunner - Political scientist, Vienna, Austria

Following will be a discussion with member of the provincial parliament and commissioner for the integration of the Islamic faith community in Austria Omar Al-Rawi and the mayor of Bad Vöslau Christoph Prinz.

Symposium, panel discussion, and opening:
Friday, September 4
3 PM - 9 PM

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