For the opening of the 50th edition of its "Intercultural Weeks", the city of Rüsselsheim invited international students to present their very personal interpretations of the theme of home and identity ("me yesterday, today, tomorrow") in one of the city's most beautiful locations.

With the support of the city's Intercultural Office , the 23 pictures by students from 13 countries were hung on the brightly lit back wall of the council chamber, where numerous visitors were able to admire them in a festive setting on September 4.

Hope that international students will find a second home in Rüsselsheim

At the beginning of the event, Mostafa Lyazami opened the doors to the council chamber for the young people, who were in Rüsselsheim for the first time, and explained how the city's policies are decided there and how they can contribute their own ideas.

The head of the Culture and Diversity Department, Ms. Petra Neumüller, welcomed the approximately 60 guests on behalf of the mayor, who had already taken an interest in the exhibition during its construction. Like the following speaker, Adnan Dayankac, Chairman of the Foreigners' Advisory Council, she linked the title of the exhibition "Home" with the wish that the new students would feel at home in Rüsselsheim and that the city and region would become a kind of second home for them.

Hanieh Yazdanjoo, the initiator of both art events, gave some information about the creation and background of the pictures.

Changing identities depicted in portrait collages

In seven large portrait collages, refugees depicted how their identity changed through the intense experiences of personal upheaval and how learning German gradually opened up new perspectives for them.

Some of the artists were present in person: Fateme, Avin, Hanieh, Baker, Georgina and Magd. The two exhibitions in the beautiful town hall provided an ideal setting for a large festival of encounters between international students, some of whom had just arrived from Kenya, Mauritius, Iran and Ukraine, and people who have long been involved in various initiatives in urban society to promote internationality in the city.

Afterwards, there was plenty of opportunity to look at the pictures and the accompanying statements and to get into conversation over drinks and snacks.

On display until October 7

Anyone interested in visiting the exhibition in the town hall must register in advance: Phone: +49 6142 83-2826. There will be another opportunity for a public visit on October 7, 2025 from 12:00 to 13:00 as part of the finissage.