Memorial Space: Names and Stones

This decentralized memorial commemorates individuals who have died from AIDS-related causes in various German and European cities. A large installation has been on display in the courtyard of the Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart (National Gallery of Contemporary Art) since 1996 as part of the "Endless Exhibition."


The installations in Tom Fecht's "Denkraum: Namen und Steine" series consist of paving stones into which relatives have the names of their deceased friends and family members engraved. These name stones are ordered through local AIDS service organizations and then incorporated into the desired installation on site.


Tom Fecht presented the first work in 1992 at Documenta IX in Kassel as a tribute to the community of artists who were among the first to courageously disclose their HIV infection. The project has since grown to include over 40 permanent and temporary installations, transforming into an active European network of local memorials for the victims of the AIDS pandemic.


Conceived over 30 years ago in the context of Land Art as a European counterpart to the US-American "NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt" (since 1987), the project "Denkraum: Namen und Steine" (Memorial Space: Names and Stones) explores the understanding of love and death, health and vulnerability, sexuality and taboo.


Moderated by Sven Beckstette, Curator at Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart (National Gallery of Contemporary Art)


Free admission



IN GERMAN