Art Fills De-sacralized Churches in Successful Biennial

The traveling art biennial Manifesta has arrived in Germany's Ruhr area, transforming de-sacralized churches into exhibition spaces that gain an added layer of solemnity. Magnus Bons reviews the event, highlighting brilliant, imaginative, and pertinent works.

Manifesta 16 Ruhr, under the provocative title "This is not a church," prompts viewers to consider the legacy and future of these former religious sites. Similar to René Magritte's famous "This is not a pipe" painting, the title encourages a deeper reflection on how the exhibition spaces, now devoid of religious function, can serve as community gathering points.

The biennial, celebrating its 30th anniversary, is spread across several towns in the Ruhr, a region historically built around coal mining. The exhibition aims to explore how these churches can function as shared spaces today and in the future, independent of their religious past. Some projects literally reimagine the churches as basketball courts or tea houses, intended to remain active community hubs after the exhibition closes.

Despite the ambitious theme, the biennial's presence in the urban landscape is subtle. Visitors often arrive at the churches, nestled between buildings and greenery, with only facade banners indicating the ongoing exhibition. Yet, the inherent solemnity of these de-sacralized spaces, a legacy of centuries of art and worship, provides a powerful backdrop for the contemporary artworks. This synergy between the art and the architecture is particularly effective in spaces like the dimly lit St. Marien in Essen, where installations by artists like Jason Dodge and William Engelen interact with the church's high, rounded hall.