THE MIRROR OF PEACE – Vienna 22.07.2026 – 30.06.2027
Prominently positioned in the main courtyard of the MuseumsQuartier, THE MIRROR OF PEACE invites visitors to reflect on peace and our place in the world. THE MIRROR OF PEACE does not approach the question of peace in an abstract way; rather, it allows viewers to have a deeply personal experience of reflection on this pressing issue of our time.
In her work, the Berlin-based Dutch artist Renee van Bavel explores themes of freedom, peace, and humanity, encouraging viewers to engage with these subjects on a deeply personal level. Her immersive artwork THE MIRROR OF PEACE embodies this approach. In the form of a monumental mirror, the installation presents viewers with a life-sized reflection of themselves, accompanied by the words: “This is what people living in peace look like.” The work is a powerful invitation to reflect on peace and on our place in the world we live in today. Standing before the mirror, visitors are not merely observing an artwork—they become part of it. Peace does not appear as a distant historical condition or political ideal, but as a fragile reality that shapes one’s own life and must be protected anew every day. THE MIRROR OF PEACE brings the topic close to the body, to the present, and to personal awareness. It makes it clear that peace cannot be taken for granted.
Since its first presentation in the Netherlands in 2020, THE MIRROR OF PEACE has been exhibited in various locations and within diverse historical contexts. In 2022, the Draiflessen Collection, together with Benedicti Claustra Onlus, presented the work on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore during the 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. In 2023, it was shown in Germany to mark the 375th anniversary of the Peace of Westphalia, and in the summer of 2025 another edition was presented in the centre of Ljubljana as part of the Global Hearth Summit.
“It is my intention to bring further versions of THE MIRROR OF PEACE to different sites around the world, raising awareness that peace must never be taken for granted, and that we must choose consciously, every day, to preserve it.” Renee van Bavel
The MuseumsQuartier sees itself as a diverse and cosmopolitan arts and cultural district—a place where people come together, spend time, and experience culture. A particular focus of the MQ’s artistic programme, especially through its Artist-in-Residence programme, is to provide visibility and support for international artists from repressive environments and regions affected by war and crisis. By presenting THE MIRROR OF PEACE, we invite our visitors to reflect together on the fragility of peace and the urgent need for dialogue.
Born in 1981 in Vught, the Netherlands, Renee van Bavel lives and works in Berlin. Her artistic practice spans visual art, performance, installation, and the culture of remembrance. Before focusing on visual art, she established a professional career as a composer, songwriter, and performer. Since 1999, she has toured Europe with her own concert programmes and created works for official commemorative events, including commissions from the Berlin Wall Foundation and the Dutch National Committee for 4 and 5 May. Between 2022 and 2024, she was Artist in Residence at the Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrück Memorials.
The accompanying discursive programme for THE MIRROR OF PEACE is developed in cooperation with the Brunnenpassage.
Exhibition Partners: