The Stelldichein! of the Bavarian State Opera connects the exhibition with the premiere of War and Peace by Sergei Prokofiev. We are guests in the former bunker on Blumenstrasse, which was built by the National Socialists as a civilian air raid shelter during World War II. The site has been open to the public since 2017: the Architekturgalerie München is converting the bunker and turning it into a place of building culture and art.

Music:
Anna Maija Hirvonen, Hanna Asieieva, Matjaž Bogataj, Felix Key Weber Violine
Kai Wangler Akkordeon

 

The occasion for the exhibition 'voina y mir' was the premiere of 'War and Peace' in the Bayerische Staatsoper on March 5, 2023.
The supporting program takes place at the so-called 'StellDichEin' in the bunker of the Munich Architecture Gallery.
On March 5, 1948, died Stalin and Prokofiev - their 75th death anniversary was the reason for the opera director to stage the musical setting of Tolstoy's novel 'War and Peace'. The musical direction made the decision in 2019. Despite the Russian war against Ukraine since February 24, 2022, the Russian conductor Vladimir Jurowski and director Dimitri Tcherniakov decided to perform the opera, albeit in a shortened version and with a different cast with artists from the former Soviet republics.

Khreschatyk South, textile print 200 x 150 cm

In contrast to 'Desastres de la guerra', views of Kiev during peacetime are shown on the second floor of the bunker.
The series of images dates from 2010 and was photographed by Johannes Schele during a lecture tour.
Printed in bright colors in two layers on thin textile flags, the series symbolizes the vulnerability of peace with its finely woven material. The overlay of the translucent materials gives the depictions an additional spatial depth.

St. Andreas Church, textile print 200 x 150 cm

The photos were taken on a car-free Sunday in central Kiev, people strolling on the streets enhance the peaceful atmosphere.

Johannes Schele's first trip to Kiev took place in 1994. Together with students from the Technical University of Munich, a trip to the Crimea to Yalta was organized, during which the Druzhba - 'Friendship' - Center of Igor Vasilevsky and the Livadia Palace were visited. The Allied Peace Conference took place there in February 1945, at which the division of Germany was negotiated.

Andreassteig, textile print 200 x 150 cm

The exhibition offers a further level that deals with the political dimension of avoiding and preventing war.
The global institution created after World War II to maintain peace - the United Nations - is not effective in its current configuration, based on the 1945 Charter, and needs to be reformed.
Current developments demonstrate the need for a revision of the Charter and the renewal of the Security Council,

St.Michaelskloster, textile print 200 x 150 cm

so that in the future 'all Members will actually settle their international disputes by peaceful means in a way that does not endanger international peace, security and justice' (Article 2.3) and 'refrain from any threat or use of force in their international relations against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State' (Article 2.4).

St.Michaelskloster, textile print 200 x 150 cm

In addition to the city images, there are texts depicting the evolution of the idea of world peace over the centuries.
The idea of a global federal system for maintaining peace is not new. Many centuries before Christ, the vision of 'da tong' - a 'Great Unity' - was formulated very early on in the 'Five Classics' of the Chinese philosopher Confucius.
His younger successor Kang Youwei processed these ideas in his 'Book of Great Unity' (da tong shu), which inspired American President Wilson to found the League of Nations. After the Second World War, the League of Nations was transformed into the United Nations.

Golden Gate, textile print 200 x 150 cm

In Europe, Kant wrote his essay 'On Eternal Peace' 230 years ago, in which he listed six preliminary articles and three definitive articles that could lead to a global federal system based on the principle of non-interference.
Kant also mentions for the first time the concept of 'global citizenship' in addition to human rights.
His essay had a decisive influence on the Charter of the United Nations.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, textile print 200 x 150 cm

It is a well-known fact that the United Nations lacks the power to effectively carry out its tasks and that it would need a supranational constitution for the executive, legislative and judicial branches with worldwide legal validity.
Already a few years before Kant, Anarcharsis Cloots - the 'orator of humanity' - had published his vision of the 'Republique Universumle' in Paris.
It is a well-known fact that the United Nations lacks the power to effectively carry out its tasks and that it would need a supranational constitution for the executive, legislative and judicial branches with worldwide legal validity.

Khreschatyk - looking north, textile print 200 x 150 cm

The book that historically derives the cosmopolitan vision of a world government, argues for it, explains it in detail and makes it plausible
'The Democratic World Parliament' by Jo Leinen and Andreas Bummel from 2017.

kindly supported by ZigZagZurich / 4spaces
Fotos by Saskia Wehler and Patrik Thomas

Maidan West, textile print 200 x 150 cm