The Mirror of Peace
Renee van Bavel
Prominently situated in the main courtyard of the MuseumsQuartier, a work of art by Renee van Bavel invites visitors to reflect on peace and our place in the world. ‘The Mirror of Peace’ does not address the question of peace in an abstract way, but instead enables viewers to have a deeply personal experience of reflection on this pressing contemporary issue.
In her works, the Berlin-based Dutch artist Renee van Bavel explores the themes of freedom, peace and humanity, encouraging viewers to engage with these themes on a deeply personal level. Her immersive artwork “The Mirror of Peace” illustrates this approach. Taking the form of a giant mirror, this artwork offers viewers a life-size reflection of themselves, accompanied by the text: “This is what people living in peace look like.” Anyone standing in front of the mirror is not merely viewing a work of art, but becomes part of it themselves. Peace is presented not as a historical state or a distant political ideal, but as a fragile reality that shapes one’s own life and must be protected anew every day. “The Mirror of Peace” brings the theme close to the body, to the present moment, to personal consciousness. It makes it clear that peace cannot be taken for granted.Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Since its first presentation in the Netherlands in 2020, “The Mirror of Peace” has been exhibited in various locations and within different historical contexts. In 2022, the Draiflessen Collection, in collaboration with Benedicti Claustra Onlus, presented the work on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore as part of the 59th Venice Biennale. In 2023, it was exhibited in Germany to mark the 375th anniversary of the Peace of Westphalia; in the summer of 2025, another version was presented in the centre of Ljubljana as part of the Global Hearth Summit.Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
“It is my intention to bring further versions of ‘The Mirror of Peace’ to various locations around the world, in order to raise awareness that peace can never be taken for granted and that we must make a conscious choice every day to preserve it.”
The MuseumsQuartier sees itself as a diverse and cosmopolitan arts and culture complex – a place where people can come together, linger, and experience culture. A particular focus of the MQ’s artistic program – especially through the Artist-in-Residence program – is on showcasing and supporting international artists from repressive contexts or those marked by war and crisis. With the presentation of "The Mirror of Peace", we invite our visitors to reflect together on the fragility of peace and the urgency of dialogue on this topic.
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. Before turning to the visual arts, she established a professional career as a composer, lyricist and performer. Since 1999, she has toured Europe with her own concert programmes and developed works for official commemorative events, including commissions from the Berlin Wall Foundation and the Dutch National Committee for 4 & 5 May. Between 2022 and 2024, she was Artist in Residence at the Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrück memorial sites.
The accompanying programme for the presentation of “The Mirror of Peace” is being developed in collaboration with the “Erinnern in Zukunft” initiative at the Brunnenpassage.
Exhibition Partners
MQ Main Courtyard
