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Project info
Team: Marko Barvirčák, Peter Galdík, Patrik Olejňák, Viliam Ondo

Pohoda festival - winner announcement

 

Description

“Minaret (from Arabic manarah, manarat) means lamp, lighthouse.

 

Few quotes / main reasons for creation of the idea :
•    “Slovakia will take in 200 Syrian refugees, but they have to be Christian.” The Washington Post
•    “We could take in Muslims, but, in Slovakia, we don’t have mosques. How could Muslims be integrated if they don't like it here.” (an Interior Ministry spokesman)
•    Slovakia is the last remaining country in the European Union with no mosque or minaret.

As authors, we understand the absence of places with the function of religious and social-community center to be part of the problem and a significant factor in public discourse. The idea of the first Slovak minaret is a reaction to this reality and is aimed to represent a symbol of open society as well as of solidarity in the light of the events related to migration crisis. It is not a religion propaganda but a symbolic structure raised as a lighthouse, which is supposed to shine for people that are on the run from extremism.

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Our goal was to start a public discussion which we achieved. Sadly, it was mainly negative and hate that formed in the public and even some slovak politicians. After a severe media criticism, it has spontaneously become a place of messages against the hater-ism. The initiation came from slovak musician B-Complex. More about the event here.

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Installation

The minaret was passable and was aimed to serve as a chill-out zone, meeting point and also as a place for discussion. At night, the installation was highlighted with light to serve as a lighthouse.

 

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