Witness: a photographic exhibition looking at stories of Christian persecution and witness throughout the world
WITNESS: Inner Conflict and Truth
1st – 31st October 2013
Church of Notre Dame de France, 5 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BX [Just off Leicester Square]
Inspired by the story of St Maximilian Kolbe, this photographic exhibition produced by Aid to the Church in Need will look at stories of Christian persecution and witness throughout the world.
The exhibition will be open throughout the production of “Kolbe’s Gift” (before and after the performance), and will continue to be freely open to the general public until 31 October 2013.
“Seek truth and serve it. The real conflict is inner conflict.”
St Maximilian Kolbe
‘Witness’ is a meditation in the purest sense. With its foundation in the life and teaching of St. Maximilian Kolbe and the work of Aid to the Church in Need, the images in this exhibition ask the viewer to make links between their own life and the various aspects shown in front of them.
They bear witness to the on-going suffering of Christians throughout the world. However, these acts are re-contextualised through subjective meditation and the words of Kolbe, bringing huge statements down to digestible, human level. ‘Witness’ is a middle-ground between Kolbe’s Gift – the subjective human responses to a world-wide atrocity – and Aid to the Church in Need’s mission to bring to light the church’s on-going persecution – Fr. Werenfried van Straaten’s purpose when he founded the charity.
Through the words of Kolbe and the actions of Fr. Werenfried, viewers of ‘Witness’ can appreciate the affiliations between these men who clung to their faith, knew their enemy, and loved them regardless.
Tags: Aid to the Church in Need, Maximilian Kolbe, persecution of Christians
