This art project must be one of the world’s largest art manifestations to stage religious interconnectedness and religious fundamentalism and extremism. With it, we hope to start a constructive, inclusive dialogue on the subject. See introduction mail.

 

The work of realizing this huge project has been an immense achievement. The initiator of the project is the Danish artist Jens Galschiot. He and a large number of employees and volunteers have literally spent hundreds of thousands of working hours on the project. 5 tons of copper have been used for the sculptures, along with 10 tons of steel, 3 tons of wax, 8.000 wax books (molded into Bibles, Torah’s and Qurans), 1 full kilometer of rolled copper plates, 6.000 rivets and 75 flat screens with minicomputers. In addition to building the sculptures, 2 years have been spent on finding 300 of the brightest and 300 of the darkest quotes from the Torah, the Bible and the Koran.

 

The terrorist attack in Paris has, sadly, made both the sculpture and dialogue project even more relevant. With this project, the artist starts a difficult and very sensitive discussion about religious fundamentalism. Focusing on how similar the religions really are, for better or worse, he opens up for a dialogue and bridge-building-process that he believes is so badly needed.

 

The artist Jens Galschiøt has thought the project through thoroughly as for whether his sculpture 'Fundamentalism' could provide a basis for violent reactions. But the core of the project is very balanced. It focuses on Judaism, Christianity and Islam and argues that all three religions essentially contain the same dark and bright sides. And that one can build a very benevolent society as well as a totalitarian regime, from all the three religions.

 

In relation to the terrorist attack, Galschiot has sent out this press release and he is not in doubt that he shall carry out the project as planned – it has only become more needed.

 

This weekend the sculpture was erected at Art Centre Silkeborg Bad in Denmark. It took 8 men, a woman, two huge trucks, a manitou and a truck three days to carry out the work. You can see the result on the photo above and the photos on the web  We are very pleased with the result and the heavy letters could just fit into the splendid panorama hall of the Art Centre. It's great to see the sculpture erected. Despite its colossal dimensions it almost seems to float, and inside the circle is a Zen-like tranquility.

 

A number of initiatives are made to strengthen the dialogue without directly involving the sculpture Fundamentalism. In this way the broader public can participate too.

 

 

After the exhibition at Art Centre Silkeborg Bad the project will start a tour to different locations, probably starting with Luxemburg Square by the EU parliament in Bruxelles. There is still some openings in the program so do take contact if you want us to exhibit in your country.

 

Contact the Secretariat at aidoh@aidoh.dk or at +45 6618 4058 (or +45 6170 3083)

 

Best regards

 

Chief of communications Lasse Markus