To mark the 2017 Reformation anniversary, Lutherstadt Wittenberg will feature seven “Gates of Freedom,” which are intended to illustrate the theme of the Reformation in various thematic areas—known as “gate spaces”—within the ramparts surrounding the Old Town.
In August 2015, the winners of the Reformation World Exhibition were announced; they will design the art and architectural installations, which are organized by theme. First prize for the “Youth” gate area was awarded to students in the Bachelor’s program in Interior Architecture at Mainz University of Applied Sciences for their design “Läuft’s bei dir – Versteckte Vielfalt” (“How’s It Going with You? – Hidden Diversity”), supervised by Prof. Antje Krauter.
“We are very proud that our students were able to impress the jury with their concept in this international competition, in which a total of 21 universities from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland participated,” said University President Prof. Dr. Gerhard Muth, expressing his delight at the presentation of the winning design. Prof. Dr. Gerhard Robbers, the government commissioner for the Reformation anniversary in Rhineland-Palatinate, explained: “In retrospect, it is said that the Reformation opened new gates to freedom; the gates in Wittenberg reflect this.”
The design “Läuft’s bei dir – Versteckte Vielfalt” (How’s It Going with You – Hidden Diversity) is based on the concept of visualizing, in the form of an installation, the maze of decisions, boundary-pushing experiences, and pathfinding that one navigates during adolescence. “To bring this to life, the depressions along Lutherstraße between the Luther Oak and Neustraße will be filled with vertical tree trunks. The trimmed upper edges reflect light via mirrored surfaces, thus creating a uniform plane between street level and the ground level of the property,” explains project director Prof. Antje Krauter. “From the outside, a sea of sparkling reflective points; from the inside, a maze of possible paths between the tree trunks at the bottom of the valley. This creates a symbolism that reflects the varying perceptions of youth: Viewed from the outside, youth appears sparkling, magnificent, and exciting. However, when you’re right in the middle of it, the variety of different paths demands constant decisions in the search for the ‘right path.’”
The seven gate areas in Wittenberg’s city walls, which form the framework for the Reformation World Exhibition, are organized around the thematic areas “Welcome, ” “Spirituality,” “Youth,” “Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation,” “Globalization,” “Ecumenism and Religion,” and “Culture.” A total of approximately 2.5 million euros has been allocated for the project. During the Reformation Summer of 2017, more than 50 regional churches, as well as international institutions, organizations, initiatives, and many cultural figures, will present their current perspectives on the Reformation. The “Gates of Freedom” will open on May 20, 2017.
