An Interreligious Art Project

The art project explores the value of spirituality, religions and traditions in our modern lives. What satisfies our longing for identity, what gives us a feeling of security and a sense of belonging?

The artists  Annemarie Matzakow and Maria Cristina Tangorra ask the very private question about the meaning of life. Here and in other cultural areas they research values, convictions, experiences and visions of the future.  What keeps our postmodern world together? Where are we heading?

By 2019, contributions have come together from more than 20 countries, which they write on large book pages and interpret visually. These "Soul Letters" are touching and surprising, inspiring and critical, and they invite a respectful exchange of ideas across cultural and faith boundaries.

Visitors and those interested have the opportunity to contribute their own texts, which are then artistically designed by the project leaders and integrated into the installation.

To participate, please write a short request by e-mail: voices@voices-of-the-world.net

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Lahr 2021

Voices of the World – Voices of Lahr has been selected as the award winner of the Lahr Summer of Culture Program 2021.

The art project is dedicated to central life questions of our time. Answers from all over the world are presented in the form of an impulse exhibition in words and pictures in the Stadtpark Lahr and in the Villa Jamm. People from Europe, Asia, the USA and Africa have already written about their lives, their hopes and their wishes. Now the two project creators are asking visitors in Lahr very personally: How do you think and feel? What is relevant for a future worth living?

It's about culture, social participation, religious diversity, respect, equal opportunities, environmental issues and more.

On July 07 / 14 / 21 from 14 h to 17 h there will be discussion circles, walk & talk tours and workshops about the project.

Freiburg
2017

The initiators

Annemarie Matzakow

Annemarie Matzakow studied french and art at the University in Aachen (DE) from 1979 - 1984. Since 1986 she is working as a freelance visual artist in Freiburg.

Weiterlesen / Keep reading

Maria Cristina Tangorra

Maria Cristina Tangorra studied architecture in Rome and Milan and art at the Brera Art Academy in Milan.

Weiterlesen / Keep reading

Guildford, UK 2019

Greetings for the exhibition
„Voices of the World“ – „Voices of Freiburg“ in Guildford

40th anniversary of the town twinning Guildford – Freiburg

This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the twinning of Guildford and Freiburg. A long lasting partnership like this cannot be taken for granted these days and I am therefore delighted it has lasted over four decades and is still active. We would like to continue and strengthen it.

The close links between Freiburg and Guildford are enough to make this event a success. Back in the 1960s it was the Anglo-German Club Freiburg which laid the foundations for this lively exchange. The perseverance of London born Dorothy Eschlepp led to the formation of the partnership on September 9th 1979. This perseverance has had very good results.

The fact that our close town twinning has remained so close until the present day is due to those who keep it alive and strengthen it. Close connections have been made between many of our schools. I am very pleased that artists from Freiburg and Guildford are now presenting their works together. Art can create a lasting and important link between our cities.

The question “What still holds our postmodern world together?” is the question that the artists in Voices of the World present through their works, and today it is more relevant than ever. The social divide is one of the greatest dangers of our time. Much more connects us than separates us. It is the task of society as a whole to convey this central message.

International dialogue at all levels is more important than ever.

Answers to the greatest challenges of our time, from climate change to refugee movements and the growing social and economic gap, will not be found by individual nation states alone. There needs to be an exchange of ideas in the areas of politics, culture and religions backed by research. The fact that the art project Voices of the World focuses on talking to each other, and learning from each other how to live together, is inspiring. Art builds bridges and inspires action.

The 40 year twinning between Freiburg and Guildford is full of stories. With the art exhibitions at Surrey Hills Sculpture Park and Guildford House Gallery two more wonderful chapters will be added. My thanks go to all those who have made this possible. This will strengthen our cities and, should Britain eventually leave the EU family, our connection will be all the more important because we have to talk to each other and not about each other. This Art project is a great role model.

Martin W.W. Horn
Mayor of Freiburg im Breisgau

Tibethaus Freiburg
2019