Manifesta 16, Kulturkirche Liebfrauen, Duisburg, Germany, 2026
Image Gallery
Exhibition Text
Abbas Zahedi was inspired by the aggressive-looking black organ which sits on a terrace above the nave of Kulturkirche Liebfrauen. Built by Franz Breil in 1964, the instrument has been broken for several years and many of its pipes have been damaged or stolen. According to Zahedi, its silence is symbolic of the disappearance of communal faith and shared experience in our society.” In response, the artist has created a second organ that “brings the old instrument’s voice down to the floor and resists the vertical hierarchy of the church with a horizontal space of shared resonance.” His installation is formed of orphan pipes from disused organs across Europe, dozens of discarded fragments humming as one. It is conceived as an open system which can accommodate new pipes like votive offerings, regardless of their provenance and condition, on an ongoing basis. Zahedi’s practice often combines sound and sculpture to develop new rituals for communal grieving. The interior of his henge-like organ becomes a venue for a series of support groups, in which participants spend time listening together and sharing experiences of loss alongside musical and artistic performances.
Pipes from the organ of St. Nicholas Church in Kyiv – destroyed by fire in September 2021 – form the founding contribution to Zahedi’s system. Their inclusion here is the result of a collaboration with three Kyiv-based organisations: Baby Prod, the Pavilion of Culture, and the National House of Music, which held concerts in St. Nicholas Church. The public programme includes a satellite event at the Pavilion of Culture in Kyiv.
Financial and legal responsibility for the loan and safe return of the Kyiv pipes has been taken personally by the artist.
Production Video
What happens when the Holy Spirit departs from a church? With congregation numbers dwindling, thousands of churches are set to be deconsecrated in the coming years. “Twist” visits deconsecrated churches in Europe that have become cultural spaces and asks about the vibes and spirit that still linger within them. “Twist” visits the Manifesta art biennial, which is utilizing twelve vacant churches in the Ruhr region. In Duisburg’s Liebfrauenkirche, English artist Abbas Zahedi has created an immersive sound installation using discarded organ pipes, forging a new space for community, spirituality, and togetherness.
Extract from a 30 minute film.
Irgendwas mit ARTE und Kultur, 2026.
Press And Media Mentions
2026 – Abbas Zahedi at Manifesta 16: Mourning Europe Collectively, Tobi Müller for Monopol Magazine source
2026 – Manifesta: War Wounds in the Church of Our Lady, Kultur Kenner source
2026 – THIS IS NOT A CHURCH, InArt source
2026 – Manifesta 16 responds to crises in the Ruhr region, Herwig G. Höller for Vol.At source
Production Credits
Manifesta 16 Creative Mediators: Michael Kurtz and Henry Meyric Hughes
Production coordinator: Zaida Violan
Concept design: in collaboration with Yelta Kom
Design and fabrication of stands: in collaboration with Wendelin Kammer-meier and Mara Meerwein
Design and fabrication of air supply system: in collaboration with Tom Pain
Research and development: Yasiin Zahedi
Supported by the Henry Moore Foundation, Gabriela Galcerán, Gigi Surel, Nissreen Darawish, and Proyectos Ultravioleta (Guatemala City). The public programme is co-commissioned by Knotenpunkt. With kind support of AMMODO.
Further information can be found on the Manifesta 16 website source
Abbas Zahedi عباس زاهدی abbzah.com 