BWM Designers & Architects

Under the direction of Johann Moser, BWM Designers & Architects created an exhibition design that corresponds with the way the curators wanted to present the topic: namely, not as a chronicle of historical facts that are set in stone, but rather as a well-founded narrative that invites discussion. The pared back architecture of the exhibition makes this transparent.

The exhibition explores the era of Nazi rule in St. Pölten, as well as its precursors and its continuities that stretch into the present day. We attached great importance to showing that St. Pölten had a long history of National Socialism predating the “Anschluss” of 12 March 1938. The wealth of material kept in the city’s archives and in the Stadtmuseum, complemented by loan pieces, made it possible to distil the most significant aspects to illustrate the effects this inhuman regime had on the city and its inhabitants. Of course, the exhibition does not claim to be exhaustive; it is often only possible to allow a “glimpse into the shadows” where the contours are blurred. Individuals suffered complex fates that often extend beyond black and white terms. It was important to us to open the space up for the memories and thoughts of the victims of the Nazi reign. The exhibition hopes to spark debate not only about the Nazi era, as uncomfortable as that may be, but also about the threat to democracy today. In cooperation with Tangente St. Pölten under the theme of “Memory”.