The “Memorial for the homosexual men and women persecuted by the NS regime” in Resselpark is reminiscent of a familiar public toilet in the Viennese cityscape. A glass cube encloses the metallic framework, with transparent walls and roof surfaces allowing unobstructed views inside. Public restrooms, along with public baths and green spaces, served as vital meeting points for homosexuals in Vienna. The elimination of the privacy typically associated with a public toilet reflects the loss of those gathering spots due to the increasing surveillance and persecution of homosexuals by the Nazis around 1939. The glass panels, transparent during the day, become opaque at night. Against the illuminated interior walls, human silhouettes emerge – silent witnesses subtly moving as if slowly traversing the interior of the cube. This monument, conceived specifically for its location and context, represents a vibrant and contemporary culture of remembrance. It encourages reflection on the persecution of homosexuals during the NS regime and, simultaneously, draws attention to the ongoing persecution and discrimination of homosexual individuals in many regions of the world to this day.
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