The mosque, constructed for Muslim soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian army on the Isonzo Front in 1917, existed for only a few months. Today, its ruins and preserved traces serve as the foundation for the Nonument Group collective’s project at the Slovenian Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, rtvslo.si reported.
Architect Miloš Kosec noted that a photograph of the mosque in the Alpine landscape sparked interest in this almost forgotten story and made the meadow in Log pod Mangartom “tell a story,” especially in the context of post-2000 debates on terrorism and controversies surrounding the construction of the mosque in Ljubljana.
Nonument Group focuses on hidden, abandoned, erased, or forgotten architectures and public spaces whose meanings change through political and social shifts. In their interpretation, the mosque in Log pod Mangartom becomes such a “nonument.” The exact circumstances of its destruction following the 12th Battle of the Isonzo and the retreat of the frontline in October 1917 remain unclear, but it is assumed that the construction materials were recycled for the needs of the local community. The ruins were recently discovered, and archaeological excavations, funded by the Islamic Community of Slovenia, were conducted in 2022 and 2024.
The project’s follow-up text stated that the exhibition “is not only concerned with the story of Islam and Bosnian soldiers on Slovenian territory, but also opens up a broader interpretation of the intertwining of power, spirituality, and war propaganda.
The centerpiece of the pavilion will be a multi-channel sound installation without visual archival displays. Martin BriceljBaraga described the concept as follows:
“Essentially, this is a pavilion without images. We decided on the absence of images and archival materials. Instead, we opted for an immersive multi-channel sound installation. Upon entering, we find ourselves in an area of endless ruins, hearing our own steps and movement. At the center of the pavilion is our invisible house, which is an outline and floor plan of the former mosque. People are invited to temporarily inhabit it and to listen, through contemplation, to a poem dedicated to the meadow in Log pod Mangartom, which bears witness to the history, memories, and reflection of that World War I mosque,” he said.
Neja Tomšič, the author of the poem to be heard in the pavilion, explained that the text was created after extensive research and numerous interviews, with parts of these interviews woven into the poem. She said that the pavilion’s setup is only one aspect of the project. A catolg will also include the history of the mosque, reflections, archival photographs, archaeological research materials, and a visual essay by Martin Bricelj Baraga. This catalog will provide a factual foundation for what will be, in the physical space, primarily an emotional and associative experience.
Architect Nika Grabar emphasized the focus on material remains and layers of traces left by structures during their existence. She also announced that the project addresses the issue of constant construction and demolition, without fully revealing how this will be manifested in the installation. The curator of the pavilion, Nataša Petrešin Bachelez, said that the Slovenian Pavilion follows the guiding theme of the Biennale, whose concept, “In Minor Keys,” is linked to minority and quieter narratives.
Within this framework, the position of Muslims as a minority in Austro-Hungary was emphasized, along with their special legal status in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the fact that 35 Muslim battalions served in the Austro-Hungarian army during World War I.
The text also stated that Muslim soldiers were granted, among other things, special dietary rules, military imams, Fridays off, and religious holidays such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. In major cities such as Graz, Zagreb, Budapest, and near the front lines, mosques were rapidly built, including one in Log pod Mangartom. It is stated that such “concessions” were likely intended to strengthen the loyalty of Muslim soldiers and that the presence of imams at the front and the construction of mosques had a mobilizing effect for the Viennese court, Klix.ba writes.
