The 16th edition of Manifesta — the European traveling biennial for contemporary art and urban development — is taking place in the western German Ruhr region this year.
Under the title "This is not a church," the main program sees international artists designing commissioned works of art for 12 churches that have fallen out of use in Bochum, Duisburg, Essen and Gelsenkirchen.
They include German artist Emil Walde's large-scale installation made of old, damaged wired-glass windows from Duisburg Central Station — which are being put on display within the church's confessional booths.
And St. Anna Church in Gelsenkirchen is showing an exhibition featuring works by internationally renowned artists such as Ming Wong, Philipp Gufler and Cana Bilir-Meier. The program also offers a rare opportunity to gather and play basketball in a church.
Churches long in decline
