Staub zu Licht - Palimpsest der Erneuerung
Azra Akšamija
Staub zu Licht - Palimpsest der Erneuerung
International art competition in Cologne Cathedral: addressing historical hostility towards Jews
For several years, the cathedral chapter has been grappling with the question of how to deal appropriately with the numerous artifacts in Cologne Cathedral that bear witness to appalling hostility towards Jews. Following comprehensive research and contextualization of these works in publications, themed tours and an exhibition, the cathedral chapter launched an art competition for Cologne Cathedral in August 2023, the results of which will be presented to the public in April 2025.
Art competition at Cologne Cathedral: confronting historical hostility towards Jews
The cathedral chapter of Cologne Cathedral is taking a close look at anti-Jewish depictions in the cathedral. After extensive research and contextualization of these artefacts, it initiated an art competition in August 2023 to find a contemporary artistic response. The results, including the winning design, were presented to the public in April 2025. On this page you will find all the designs, background information and press releases on the competition.
A light installation in dialog with history and architecture
At the heart of Prof. Dr. Azra Akšamija's artistic vision is a poetic transformation: from dust to light. The installation would have unfolded as a floating spatial object in the north transept of Cologne Cathedral, interweaving history, spirituality and architecture.
Interaction and transformation
A candle holder installation would have been created below the floating installation, inviting visitors to pause and interact. They could have lit candles here to make their wishes and prayers visible. In a seven-year cycle, these glass vessels would have been integrated from the candle area upwards into the matrix. The empty sides would have been given a new layer of gold leaf and fragments of the former bima - as a growing manifestation of interfaith dialog.
A living work of art
“Dust to Light” was not intended as a static installation, but as a continuous process of renewal. It would have been an artistic reflection on reconciliation and change - a work that preserves history while keeping the future open. The gradual transformation of cathedral dust into golden pixels of light would have made this idea tangible.
Prof. Dr. Azra Akšamija is an internationally renowned artist and architectural historian. She teaches at MIT, where she directs the Art, Culture and Technology Program and the Future Heritage Lab. Her work examines the role of culture in contexts of conflict and migration and has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, the Secession Vienna and renowned museums worldwide.