L E S C O L O M B E S
T H E C I T I E S
Michael Pendry
How the journey started
“I sat in this beautiful old church in Munich for almost two weeks after being asked to create an artwork for the space. I didn’t have a clue what to do - until I became aware of the omnipresence of doves in this amazing building. I found them in paintings in the side chapels, on the main altar, or as stucco sculptures. I started to research into mythology, religion, and the symbolism of doves – from Mesopotamia to Noah, from ancient Japan to Judaism. And I tried to figure out what the dove means for us today. With Les Colombes I converted the universal celebration of “spirit and peace” into a three-dimensional installation and into my way of working.”
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Munich
CHURCH OF HOLY SPIRIT
This iconic place in the heart of Munich´s historical center was the starting point of the journey of Les Colombes. In 2014, the art advisor Elisabeth Lutz of the Diocese of Munich approached me with the request of doing a site-specific installation for her. She was responsible for all art events and exhibitions in southern Bavaria linked with art in churches or dealing with religious content. The outcome was open…
“As art advisor Elisabeth Lutz had a big faith in me and my work, I was free to do whatever I want to do.”
Michael Pendry
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Burghausen
ST. JAKOB KIRCHE
The little medieval town Burghausen in Bavaria, nestling close to the Austrian border, was the first stop for the doves before setting out on the journey around the world. Burghausen is a place famous for the longest castle complex in the world, its rich handcraft tradition, as well as for its internationally renowned Jazz festival. Les Colombes started to spread its wings …heading for JERUSALEM!
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Jerusalem
DORMITION ABBEY, MOUNT ZION
“With his installation the renowned Munich artist Michael Pendry has created a work of art which has found the ideal location here on Mount Zion, the scene of the Pentecost. Since the earliest beginnings of the Christian tradition the dove symbolises the Holy Spirit. The many doves hence constitute a link with the work of the Holy Spirit, which took its starting point from here. Moreover in all the world‘s religions and cultures the dove of peace is regarded as a sign of reconciliation.”
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Precisely in Jerusalem Michael Pendry’s art installation should be a reminder of the importance of peace among people of different faiths.
P.Dr. Nikodemus C. Schnabel OSB
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London
ST-MARTINS-IN-THE-FIELDS, TRAFALGAR SQUARE
The famous St.Martin-In-The-Fields was the first stop for the doves in Egland in 2017. The buzzling and lively neghbourhood of Trafalgar Square with its Museeums and Soho gave the project a new light and an international awareness of visitors from around the world.
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Salisbury
SALISBURY CATHEDRAL
#SalisburyCityofDoves In April 2018, Salisbury was in shock after the Novichock poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Only two months later, Les Colombes found a new home in the Salisbury Cathedral carrying the message of peace and reconciliation all through the city. It stretched beyond the ancient cathedral walls and embraced the Salisbury residents. The congregation and wider community were invited to come together to fold white paper doves and add their individual prayers or messages on the inside before joining the wider flock.
White paper Doves appear in all shop windows throughout the city of Salisbury
Michael Pendry in an interview with Art Advisor Jacquiline Creswell
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LES COLOMBES SHOWING THE FIRST TIME IN THE UNITED STATES
San Francisco
GRACE CATHEDRAL, NOB HILL
After the tremendous success in Europe, San Francisco was the first stop of Les Colombes in the United States. The project found a new home overseas in the stunning space of Grace Cathedral in Nob Hill, San Francisco.
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New York
CHR, FIFTH AVENUE
The Church of the Heavenly Rest on Fifth Avenue right next to the Guggenheim Museum was hosting Les Colombes in 2019. The doves flew over from west coast to the east coast to enchant visitors from all over the world in the Big Apple.
NYC firemen popped by after a fire alarm was set-off by artificial haze having big fun beeing part of a large scale art exhibit by accident.
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Washington DC
NATIONAL CATHEDRAL
In 2021 Les Colombes were floating in the National Cathedral of the United States in Washington DC. They were challenging times with the global pandemic paralyzing the world. Yet, with the amazing support and relentless energy of many people we were able to install Les Colombes to spread their wings and the message of hope. People gave the doves such a warm welcome in Washington DC and the excitement of having art and culture back in their lives was incredibly touching.
The nave of the impressive neo-gothic architecture of the National Cathedral was the home of the doves for almost 7 months in 2021.
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Edinburgh
ST. GILES CATHEDRAL
Burns and Beyond – Michael Pendry’s Les Colombes
Following a series of stunning installations in recent years for Burns&Beyond at St. Giles’ Cathedral, “we are thrilled to welcome German artist Michael Pendry to Scotland for his first installation with the beautiful Les Colombes (The Doves), a winding column of more than 2,500 origami paper doves which will fly the full length of the cathedral.”
Sending a symbol of hope and peace to Ukraine and the people suffering from that unbelievable invasion and senseless war. A link to donate and help victims and support humanitarian organizations will be uploaded soon.