Manifesta 16 takes place in empty churches in four cities of the Ruhr Valley. The travelling Biennale investigates how we can reimagine empty church buildings as spaces for civic life, physical well-being and community encounter.
Among the more than 100 artists is Šejla Kamerić with the light installation 'AGAPE' at the St. Gertrud Church in Essen. The realisation of the installation was supported by Art Collection Telekom.
Šejla Kamerić’s work begins with a small inscription in St. Gertrud’s mosaic: the Greek word 'ΑΓΑΠΗ' (agape), meaning a form of unconditional, selfless love directed to others and to God. In ancient Greek and early Christian thought, 'agape' describes a love that gives without expecting anything in return – a love grounded in care, responsibility and attention to others which founds its strength and fulfilment in the love to God.
