Page - 47 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 03/02

SinnRäume. An Exhibition | 47www.jrfm.eu 2017, 3/2, 37–51 spectives of the photographs were likewise chosen not with regard primarily to lighting conditions but based on the personal perspectives of the interviewees. the taking of the photographs coincided with and became part of the inter- views. in the exhibit, these photographs are not illustrative, but, like the texts, independent media elements. the photographs are considered visual media and imagery as well as material forms. They are printed on different surfaces and can be looked at, touched, or turned around. this way material religion is not only displayed in the exhibition but also used as an approach to mediate this content on different levels. the living spaces depicted in the exhibition open the way for visitors to re- flect on their own living situation or to identify with certain images. Thus, a Catholic priest among the exhibition visitors quickly identified with Thomas’ toy monstrance. But he was also captivated by esther’s statements about her self-identification as a Catholic influenced by Hinduism, which significantly con- tradicted his own religious ideals. in addition to providing personal insights, the photographs also make a very personal tour of the exhibition possible, with more profound understanding of the ideals and everyday lives of our in- terviewees. texts the text categories in SinnRäume range from statements taken from our in- terviews to contextualizing explanatory texts on religion to thematic texts on broader working definitions and the exhibition project itself. They provide in- formation on different levels. First, the direct quotes provide an individual and emotional level of access. our research process was rooted in an inductive ap- proach, with terms of self-identification therefore a basis of definition. This ap- proach was to be included in the presentation of the results, hence the use of the direct quotations. Meaning is thus mediated in the first person, with tangi- ble protagonists describing their own perspectives. this lays the groundwork for visitors to identify with the persons portrayed. During one of the first guided tours a woman declared her identification with more than one interviewee. While she shared some beliefs with Jessica and the international society for Krishna Consciousness, she also practiced some forms of meditation that Martina depicted. this personal engagement not only made the exhibition accessible to her but also sparked a discussion on similarities and differences between Jessica and Martina as well as an exchange between the visitors about their own experiences and beliefs. the explanatory texts are intended to provide scholarly perspectives and re- search results as well as impulses and questions for the visitor’s own encounter with the case studies. in addition, some wording enables a glance behind the