Description
Historically, places of worship are integral to the life and function of the city. Just think of the oases of calm created by Buddhist temples in the middle of busy Bangkok; of the way time is structured around the call to prayer in the cities of the Middle East; and how, before the industrial revolution and modern age, the domes and spires of churches and cathedrals dominated the skylines of European cities.
What function do places of worship have in Melbourne today? Does their value lie in their history, or do they have a continuing role to play as places of peace in the rush of the technological age? Is the multicultural reality of Melbourne embodied in the sacred architecture of the city? Through photography and text, The New Jerusalem will ask us to pause and contemplate – critically and meditatively – the meaning of worship and faith today.
Curated by writer Christos Tsiolkas and photographer Zoe Ali.
Image credit: Zoe Ali, City of Melbourne Synagogue.