During the World Youth Day in Lisbon from August 1st to 6th, 2023, an impactful art installation adorned the front of Cologne Cathedral. The installation featured 333 child figures, draped in white-purple barrier tape, representing the colors of innocence and the curia.
With outstretched hands, these small figures pointed towards the towering cathedral, drawing attention to the church’s troubling history of mishandling victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse.
Aptly named “Shattered Souls in a Sea of Silence,” this thought-provoking artwork by artist Dennis Josef Meseg aimed to amplify the voices of the victims, giving them the visibility they deserve.
