Introduction to the Nova Exhibition
An exhibition tells the story of the morning of October 7, 2023, when about 3,000 visitors to the Nova Music Festival in the Israeli desert became the victim of the deadliest attack on a music event in history. According to the Israeli military, Hamas members killed 378 festival goers, hundreds were injured, and more than 40 were brought into the Gaza Strip as hostages.
The Exhibition’s Purpose
The exhibition, also known as "October 7th, 6:29 a.m. – the moment when music stands still", was shown in Tel Aviv, New York, Buenos Aires, and other cities, and is now exhibited in Berlin. Instead of giving a general overview of the conflict, it focuses exclusively on the people who were present at the Nova Music Festival in Israel. Through multimedia installations, forensic evidence, and reports from first-hand survivors and their families, the exhibition shows visitors the atrocities and stimulates thinking.
The Exhibition’s Layout
The exhibition takes place on the site of the Historical Airport Tempelhof, where the festival site is recreated through multimedia installations. The exhibition consists of three parts. In the first part, there is an introductory video in the entrance hall before the visitors enter a replica of a campsite on the festival site. All exhibited objects, including tents, burned-out cars, personal objects, and portable toilets, come from the original location. Visitors are encouraged to touch and smell everything or to take the cell phones in their hands where videos are played.
Honoring the Victims
The second part of the exhibition addresses the lives of the victims based on text boards and portraits. For example, the young German tattoo artist Shani Louk, who was killed by Hamas, is remembered. A photo of her, unconscious on the loading area of a pickup, cheered on by the perpetrators, went around the world. The exhibition shows numerous videos on screens that were recorded by the victims and describe the attack from their hiding places.
Healing and Remembrance
The third part of the exhibition is devoted to healing: Under the motto "We will dance again", a room reminds the visitors of the power of music, community, and resistance. The project is supported by the Tribe of Nova Foundation, founded by the organizers of the Nova Music Festival, and was brought to Berlin in collaboration with representatives of the local music and cultural scene. The exhibition is under the patronage of Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner, Federal Minister of Education Karin Prien, and Wolfram Weimer, the representative for culture and media.
Reaction from Officials
Mayor Wegner stated that "The values of the Nova Festival are values for which Berlin also stands." He found that anti-Semitism had increased worldwide and that he himself was under pressure because he had raised the Israeli flag in front of the town hall. Ron Prosor, Israel’s ambassador in Berlin, said at the opening: "Those who ignore the hostages reveal them. Looking away makes injustice thrive, isolates the victims, and silences their voices."
Current Situation
The exhibition is opened at a time when peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas are running. According to Israeli sources, almost 50 people are still captured in the Gaza Strip, which were kidnapped on October 7, 2023, by the Nova Festival and the settlements close to the border. Their families continue to hope for their early release, although it is uncertain whether they still live. The exhibition runs until November 16 at Tempelhof Airport, with entry costing €20, and the Tribe of Nova Foundation benefits.
