Exhibition Series: At home – On the go
In 2026/2027, the Trinational Museum Network will present the exhibition series At home – On the go. Thirty museums from Germany, France, and Switzerland will present exhibitions that explore the theme in various ways, thereby sparking a cross-border reflection on the subject.
The exhibition series is coordinated by the Dreiländermuseum in Lörrach.
Valerie Schönenberg, Director of the Museum im Ritterhaus (Offenburg), on the exhibition Faith.
What is the exhibition about?
The special exhibition “Faith - At home – On the go” centers on objects from the 18th–20th-century collection of religious folk art belonging to the Cologne-based collector Ansgar Fütterer and from the museum’s own holdings. These are objects that sometimes seem familiar, but at other times have become very foreign, as they no longer play a role in our everyday lives due to the changes in our globalized society. However, this does not mean that faith no longer plays a role in our daily lives. It is changing, and with it, the material symbols - and it is precisely these “objects of faith” that the exhibition focuses on.
What perspective does the exhibition offer on the theme “At Home – On the go”?
The historical objects we are exhibiting convey religious - primarily Christian - practices. These can be everyday practices at home, as the “Herrgottswinkel” (prayer corner), for example, very vividly illustrates. However, some also stem from being on the move - such as on pilgrimages, visits to places of pilgrimage, or the need for protective amulets. Some objects were acquired while traveling for use at home.
Is there a work or aspect of the exhibition that particularly effectively conveys the theme “at Home – On the go” to you?
A loan from the Badisches Landesmuseum reflects both aspects exceptionally well: an album containing souvenirs from a pilgrimage to Rome. In 1925, Max Grabs meticulously documented his journey and pasted all sorts of small items into it - from train tickets and meal vouchers to photos, newspaper clippings, flags, and dried plants - simply everything that would remind him, back at home, of his experiences on the road. The album comprises 200 pages, has been digitized, and can be browsed at a media station.
Jan Merk, Director of the Dreiländermuseum, on the exhibition series:
