On August 27, one of the last dry days in this rainy summer, The Vienna Project, in cooperation with the Israeli Embassy in Austria, hosted its final event before the grand finale on October 18. Behind this performance, curated by Ildiko Meny, stood Ossi Yalon, an artist from Israel who came to Vienna especially for the occasion.

Yalon’s point of departure was the November Pogrom of 1938 (Kristallnacht), and above all the fact that this event has received little attention in Austria’s public memory. She decided to take artistic action herself and contacted the Israeli Embassy in Vienna, which in turn established a connection with The Vienna Project.

One year and many emails between the USA, Israel, Austria, and Spain later, the time had finally come and “The Well / Der Brunnen” could be realized. The four women behind this performance finally met in person: Karen Frostig (Director of TVP), Ildiko Meny (Curator of TVP), Galit Ronen (Israeli Embassy), and Ossi Yalon (artist).

For the performance, the Marpe Lanefesh memorial - one of the 38 sites of remembrance - was chosen. The quiet atmosphere of this glass pavilion became the stage for the well that the artist created. All around it, delicate crystal objects were placed with care, serving as symbolic memories for the participants. Everyone was invited to select a piece of crystal, to release personal memories, thoughts, or moments, and to pause for reflection.

What remained in the end was a silent, shimmering well of memories, glowing brightly in the evening sun, while outside the pavilion people once again became absorbed in conversation and life resumed its familiar course.

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Johanna Taufner