One thousand faces of one union - Hoofdinhoud
German photo artist Carsten Sander captures the portraits of 1000 Europeans of different ethnicities, religions and social backgrounds. The project is one part of the cultural programme of Germany's Council Presidency.
Sander depicts celebrities, athletes, politicians, chance encounters on the street—all on equal terms, side by side. 1000 faces of the European Union is an impressive demonstration of European sentiment and a tribute to peaceful co-existence, tolerance and shared values. In a contemporary way, this project centers on the humanity, emotionality and visionary power of the European idea all across Europe, from Madrid to Riga, from Dublin to Bilbao.
Part of the Faces of Europe exhibition in the Justus Lipsius building in Brussels. © Vanessa Sánchez-Fernández/Auswärtiges Amt
Sander looks for unifying and distinguishing features with photos and statements that show the significance of Europe at a personal level. At select locations during the trip, the project’s editorial team documents European protagonists through audio and video interviews. The aim is to create a post-national panorama of European horizons of experience and common values. The artist’s vision for the project is to mobilise Europeans to actively engage for the European idea.
Faces of Europe: A project that just keeps on growing
The cycle of exhibitions begins at the start of the Presidency in the EU Council building (Justus Lipsius) in Brussels. Further planned exhibition locations include Strasbourg, Madrid, Luxembourg, Dublin, Warsaw, Berlin, Munich, Shanghai and Moscow. The exhibitions are accompanied by a comprehensive photo book and a discursive catalogue. Media formats such as podcasts, talks, interview series and a social media campaign further enrich the project.
Faces of Europe: Ein Projekt im Wachstum