“Shalom am Rhein” tells the story of over 1,000 years of Jewish life in Rhineland-Palatinate and opens up new ways of engaging with history, culture, and coexistence through a variety of perspectives.
The exhibition “Shalom am Rhein” at the Landesmuseum Mainz tells the story of over 1,000 years of Jewish life in Rhineland-Palatinate – from the medieval ShUM communities in Speyer, Worms, and Mainz, which are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites – to the present day. It shows not only cultural flourishing, but also persecution and destruction, and opens up new perspectives on the coexistence of Jewish and non-Jewish society.
Based on the objects, the diverse stories that an exhibit has to offer are told — beyond the pure presentation and content. The exhibition highlights the historical context and integrates perspectives from outside the museum to paint a multi-perspective picture of Jewish life.
The exhibition appeals to those with a professional interest and people who are familiar with Jewish culture, as well as visitors who have had little contact with the subject matter to date. The aim is to welcome everyone—regardless of prior knowledge, cultural background, or physical limitations. Accessibility and low thresholds are at the heart of the presentation. An intuitive orientation system enables all visitors to navigate easily.
The exhibition can be experienced both in its entirety in analog form and in greater depth through digital offerings. Interactive media stations, such as an AI avatar of a Jewish scholar from the Middle Ages, bring history to life and spark curiosity. Digital formats are particularly appealing to young visitors, inspiring them to take an interest in Jewish culture and history.
The exhibition covers 400 square meters in the historic stone hall. Its unusual architecture creates spaces that narrow and open up, inviting visitors to view the exhibition from multiple perspectives. Only from the gallery does the stylized shape of a Star of David, which characterizes the exhibition architecture, reveal itself.
Sustainable solutions characterize the exhibition: Upcycling, resource-saving materials, and a low carbon footprint are the focus. The elements are durable, low-maintenance, and economical.
- Client
- Landesmuseum Mainz
- Location
- Mainz
- Services
- Creative conception and planning of the exhibition architecture, scenography, media planning, exhibition graphics and interactive elements
- Team
- Dominik Mycielski, Enya Rosing, Emily Metzger
