| Event Name: | Multi-Faith Spaces: Symptoms and Agents of Religious and Social Change |
| Description: | The Pray-o-mat by Oliver Sturm
Conference, Installation
he conference Multi-Faith Spaces: Symptoms & Agents of Religious & Social Change is organised by the Manchester Architecture Research Centre (MARC) and the School of Environment and Development (SED)
This two day event will bring together a wide range of contributions: from (amongst others) academics, policy experts, architects, designers, theologians, chaplains, facilities managers, and the art project Pray-o-mat by Oliver Sturm.
Increasingly, both public and private organisations are attempting to accommodate religious diversity via the provision of multi-faith spaces (MFS). Some are small and mono-functional (located in airports, universities, hospitals, shopping malls, etc); others take the form of dedicated buildings or complexes, where different religions inhabit and utilise their own sacred space(s), whilst sharing collective ‘secular’ facilities. Here individuals can, notionally, come together to pray, relax, discuss and learn.
Within these spaces divergent worldviews might be brought together, with potential reconciliation between belief systems occurring. Some even view MFS as places where new religious practices might thrive. Additionally, MFS have received overt political endorsement, with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) noting the importance of ‘shared spaces for interaction’. Here MFS are viewed as tangible manifestations of tolerance and pluralism, within a socio-religious landscape characterised by a certain degree of fragmentation. Yet issues arise as to whether these spaces are being constructed to promote narrow socio-political agendas (i.e. ‘cohesion’ or ‘inclusion’ policies), or are put in place to merely appease ‘customers’ - for example, in airports, shopping centres or universities.
On the occasion of this conference German artist Oliver Sturm presents the concept of his latest project, the Gebetomat. The newly commisioned English version of this prayer machine, the Pray-o-mat, will be installed at the University of Manchester.
The Gebetomat represents the smallest form of spiritual space. Conceived for railway stations, airports, motorway service stations and other public places it offers passers-by a practical opportunity for inner contemplation. The Gebetomat is a prayer machine in the format of a photo booth currently installed in various places in Germany such as the Zentrum für Medienkunst Karlsruhe, the Haus der Kulturen der Welt Berlin, and the Evangelischen Kirchentag in Dresden.
Visitors have the chance to listen to prayers from the great world religions and numerous other faiths and religious communities. They can choose whether to use the booth as a place into which they can withdraw for their own prayer or one where they can just listen. Amongst the 300-plus prayers on offer are shrill voodoo rituals from Cuba, Australian Aborigines calling out to their ancestors with a didgeridoo, a Tatar rain song, a Mongolian shamanic ceremony, throaty Turkish Sufi chants, and haunting incantations from Tibetan Buddhist monks. Stripped of religious ceremony, the prayers are reduced to rich auditory experiences, telling of mystery and ritual. |
| Type of Event: | Religious Events |
| Event Agenda: | Admission free. Booking essential. |
| Event Location: | St Peters House Chaplaincy & Church |
| Event City: | Manchester |
| Type of Venue: | Religious - Church - Temple |
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| Event Start Date | 21-Mar-12 |