21.07.2026
"The Mirror of Peace" – Renee van Bavel
July 22 – June 30, 2027 | MQ Main Courtyard
Starting July 22, the sculpture “The Mirror of Peace” by Dutch artist Renee van Bavel will be on display in the main courtyard of the MuseumsQuartier Wien. The mirror bears the message: “This is what people living in peace look like.” (“This is what people who live in peace look like.”)
Anyone who steps in front of the mirror not only sees their own reflection, but also becomes part of the artwork. The installation draws attention to something that long seemed self-evident in Europe but has once again become fragile today: peace.
At a time when war, violence, and social polarization shape our daily lives, “The Mirror of Peace” reminds us that peace is not an abstract political concept, but a shared responsibility. Peace does not begin with political negotiations; it begins in our daily interactions, in mutual respect, in listening, and in a willingness to engage in dialogue.
Renee van Bavel’s *Der Spiegel* holds up a mirror—in the truest sense of the word. It poses a simple yet profound question: What contribution do we ourselves make to a peaceful society? Visitors are invited to reflect on their own role in an open, democratic community. The Austrian peace researcher Robert Jungk wrote: “Those who want peace must prepare for peace, not for war.”
The MuseumsQuartier sees itself as a cosmopolitan arts and culture complex and as a public space where people from a wide variety of backgrounds come together. Art in public spaces, in particular, can provide food for thought, spark conversations, and create spaces where social issues can be discussed collectively. With the presentation of “The Mirror of Peace,” the MuseumsQuartier invites visitors to recognize the value of peace—not as something to be taken for granted, but as a collective responsibility.
About Renee van Bavel
Renee van Bavel, born in Vught, the Netherlands, in 1981, lives and works in Berlin. Her artistic practice spans the fields of visual art, performance, installation, and the culture of remembrance.
The accompanying program for the presentation of “The Mirror of Peace” is being developed in collaboration with the Brunnenpassage’s “Erinnern in Zukunft” initiative.
Exhibition Partners:
Draiflessen
Collection, Brunnenpassage
For further information
Anna Lena Schmidt,
MAPress and Public Relations |
Editorial DepartmentM. +43 699 130 60
112anna.schmidt@mqw.at | presse@mqw.at
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