HISTORY

Düsseldorf commemorates the destroyed Great Synagogue in difficult times. Presentation of the light installation "missing link_" by Mischa Kuball

Article in German

Light installation "missing link_" by Mischa Kuball ©Achim Kukulies

Düsseldorf, November 8 2023: Yesterday, the temporary light installation "missing link_" by Düsseldorf artist Mischa Kuball was presented to the press. It now stands on the corner of Kasernenstraße and Siegfried-Klein-Straße, exactly where the Great Synagogue once stood. On 10 November 1938, the synagogue was set on fire during the November pogroms and the ruins were demolished on 29 November of the same month. Completed in 1904 in the neo-Romanesque style, the synagogue was a central hub of Jewish life in the town. In addition to religious services, concerts and public lectures were also held there. Until yesterday, only a simple memorial stone commemorated the existence of the synagogue, but the light installation is only temporary.

Lichtinstallation "missing link_" von Mischa Kuball ©David Young

The memorial stone was not sufficient

According to the artist Mischa Kuball, the memorial stone could not give any indication of the size and significance of the synagogue and the community centre in Düsseldorf. The use of a white light was very important to him: "The 'missing link_' installation uses the white light and a fragment of the historical architecture to create visibility at this location - a visibility for the gap that cannot really be closed to this day. 'missing link_' is also an attempt to offer the people who have suffered this loss a more dignified place for gatherings in our city," says Mischa Kuball.

On site, visitors can connect to an app and obtain further information, such as eyewitness accounts.

Mischa Kuball has been working as a conceptual artist in public and institutional spaces since 1977 and has been Professor of Public Art at the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne since 2007. Many of his works are created using the medium of light. Important works include "res.o.nant" at the Jewish Museum Berlin (2017-2019), "greenlight" in a former Jewish neighbourhood in Montevideo (1999) and "refraction house" in the Stommeln Synagogue (1994).

Interfaith prayer for peace

The installation also sends out a special signal these days. Just last week, the city held an interfaith prayer for peace on the market square, bringing together representatives of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. (we broadcast live on social media). At this emotional moment, hundreds of people lit up the square with their mobile phone torches.

Also present yesterday evening: Lord Mayor Dr Stephan Keller, Miriam Koch, Councillor for Culture and Integration, Dr Bastian Fleermann, Director of the Düsseldorf Memorial, and Bert Römgens, Administrative Director of the Jewish Community of Düsseldorf.

The project will start on Thursday, 9 November, at 10.30 pm on site at the corner of Kasernenstraße and Siegfried-Klein-Straße.

©Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf/David Young

Dr. Stephan Keller, Beate Plenkers-Schneider, Rabbiner Schimon Lewin (Jüdische Gemeinde), Imam Ramazan Gevrek (Kreis der Düsseldorfer Muslime), Superintendent Heinrich Fucks und Stadtdechant Frank Heidkamp

©Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf/David Young