Opening of the exhibition I am an Austrian! in St. Pölten

Opening of the exhibition I am an Austrian! in St. Pölten

Ehemalige Synagoge St. Pölten, Österreich - On April 11, 2025, Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner opened the exchange exhibition "I am an Austrian!" In the former St. Pölten synagogue. This exhibition, which can be seen until November 9, 2025, is dedicated to the life and work of photographer Kurt Bardos and illuminates the tragic history of his family during the Holocaust. Mikl-Leitner emphasized the importance of the exhibition, which contributes to the visualization of the history of Bardos, which was considered one of the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, excluded and murdered. In her speech, she emphasized how important it is to show the triviality and anti -Semitism attitude, especially at a time when the memorial culture is of great importance.

The former St. Pölten synagogue was opened a year ago as the central place of commemoration and is called the “heart of the culture of memory in Lower Austria”. Mayor Mathias Stadler spoke about the emotional importance of this site and recalled the once flowering Jewish community in the region. Charlotte Hermann, Vice President of the Israelite Religious Society, addressed the identity of the Jews in Austria and its importance for the national memory. Martha Keil, the curator of the exhibition, also explained the monumental connection between the photographic work of Kurt Bardos and his family history.

memory culture and memorial initiatives

Lower Austria plans a variety of commemorative and memory culture initiatives that will be the focus in the coming time. These include:

• 80 years since the end of the Second World War
• 70 years since the state contract signing
• 30 years since Austria joined the EU

In addition, the Milk Memorial is expanded into an international memorial, in cooperation with the Mauthausen Memorial. A traveling exhibition with memory objects from Yad Vashem is shown in the St. Pölten country house. A new learning and memorial location will be established in Wall near Amstetten on the history of psychiatry in National Socialism. These initiatives underline the importance of an active culture of remembrance in Austria, which also addresses the challenges of the past.

musical and personal memories

The musical design of the opening was carried by the pianist Dorothy Khadem-Missagh, the violinist Václav Dvořák and the cellist Vojtĕch Urban with works by the composer Pavel Haas. In parallel to the opening ceremony, Susanne Eiselt, the niece of Kurt Bardos, shared moving family memories, which contributed to the emotional depth of the event. In addition, other nieces of Kurt Bardos and the ambassador of the Czech Republic were present, which underlined the international importance of the event.

In the Austrian culture of remembrance, there is now a clear focus on dealing with the Holocaust, which Heidemarie Uhl, historian of the ÖAW, refers to the central aspect of national identity. In view of the upcoming commemorative and memory culture initiatives, it becomes apparent that Austria's handling of its past is pursuing an increasingly inclusive and reflective approach. Further information on the exhibition is available online at www.ehemalige-synagoge.at .