The Jewish Museum Vienna, part of Wien Holding, opened the exhibition “A Muslim, a Christian and a Jew” by Israeli artist Eran Shakine last evening at the Museum Dorotheergasse. Numerous guests from politics, culture, and media attended the opening, including representatives of major cultural institutions, embassies, and the City of Vienna. Eran Shakine traveled خاصة from Tel Aviv and was personally present at the opening.
26. May 2026
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Opening: A Muslim, a Christian and a Jew
by JMW
Für die musikalische Begleitung des Abends sorgte Klezzthree (Maciej Golebiowski, Efe Turumtay, Benjy Fox-Rosen).
© Ouriel Morgensztern
At the heart of the exhibition is Shakine’s series of works of the same name. While the title may initially sound like the beginning of a joke, it offers a humorous yet profound exploration of the similarities and differences between the three monotheistic religions. A Muslim, a Christian, and a Jew encounter one another in everyday, poetic, and at times absurd situations - not as opposites, but as human beings sharing common hopes, questions, and vulnerabilities.
The atmosphere of the exhibition is significantly shaped by plants specially provided by Vienna’s municipal gardens for this presentation.
Barbara Staudinger, Director of the Jewish Museum Vienna, emphasized in her opening speech:
“In a time when religiously motivated hatred is driving ever deeper divisions between communities, Eran Shakine poses simple questions in his paintings: Why don’t we work together toward a greater goal? Why do we expect to be saved instead of saving one another? His answers are layered, yet always radically optimistic.”
© Ouriel Morgensztern
Curator Hannes Sulzenbacher explained: “Eran Shakine’s body of work demonstrates that what unites us is not found in grand revelations, but in the everyday act of being human. Suddenly, it becomes tangible that living together might be possible. And yet, it remains one of the greatest challenges on our planet.”
© Ouriel Morgensztern
Executive City Councillor for Culture and Science, Veronica Kaup-Hasler, highlighted the exhibition’s societal relevance: “The Jewish Museum Vienna presents a multifaceted dialogue on coexistence, mutual respect, and social cohesion. In his striking paintings and drawings, Eran Shakine combines religious motifs with pop-cultural references and everyday scenes, creating works that are at once humorous, accessible, and highly relevant to contemporary society. His works make visible just how essential openness, diversity of perspectives, and a sense of connection are for our society.”
Gregor H. Lersch, Director of the Museum Casa di Goethe, stated: “Eran Shakine’s works present an artistic position from Israel that, despite all ruptures and conflicts, continues to believe in the possibility of a shared coexistence.”
Vienna, as a historic place of encounter but also of tensions between the Abrahamic religions, forms a central resonance space for the exhibition.
© Ouriel Morgensztern
With humor, precision, and profound humanity, Eran Shakine opens up new perspectives on coexistence in an increasingly polarized world.
© Ouriel Morgensztern
Eran Shakine was born in Israel in 1962 to a French father and a Hungarian Holocaust survivor. He lives and works in Tel Aviv. His work has been exhibited internationally and is represented in numerous collections.
© Ouriel Morgensztern
© Ouriel Morgensztern
