In Holy Places (2006)

ART+COM was commissioned with the media design for the exhibition „In Holy Places“. The show in Saarbrücken’s Museum for Pre- and Early History focuses on the locations of Roman cults. Six media stations add to the exhibition interactive and playful elements.

The Romans’ handling of religion in the occupied and colonised provinces was very liberal. Inhabitants were allowed to continue their original religious beliefs. Holy places were integrated into Roman cults, gods could be raised into the Roman Olymp. The exhibition deals with the relation between traditional indigenous and Roman cults. The strong recurrence on landscape in some of the cults is shown. Specifics of the larger region Saarland are presented, e.g. rock reliefs with representations of gods still to be discerned today.

ART+COM’s audio visual media run like a thread through the exhibition. Already in the opening room, an interactive wall projection gives information in German, English or French. In the room of the “Interpretatio Romana”, the visitor can learn about the circularly erected statues of gods with a pivoting screen. A pulsating light, rousing curiosity, lures to the presentation of the cult of Mithras. When the visitor turns the screen to face him, he is introduced to the cult formerly reserved to men. Further stations give information on temple constructions and source sanctuaries. The final installation focuses on the theme of “Faith and Rite”. It will only reveal its secrets after the visitor has worshipped with a symbolic oblation. He has to put part of his ticket into the donation bowl and is then informed on what the Romans donated to win godly grace.

The exhibition’s opening gives the first opportunity to visit the newly designed rooms in the Museum for Pre- and Early History as well as the transition to the Schlosskirche. This is the first phase of the re-design of the museums on Schlossplatz. “In Holy Places” runs from 20th May 2006 - 31th Dezember 2007.

show project details