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Photography exhibition „Together About Ourselves“

Tuesday, 7 Oct 2008 to Saturday, 5 Jan 2008

The exhibition shows an image of common and different elements of life of teenagers from two culturally and socially diverse locations of Prague. Black and white documentary photographs created by children from Žižkov and Modřany cover the important moments of their lives that are usually clouded with secret for us.

Traveling exhibition will be shown at the following locations of Prague:

  • 7. Oct. - 5. Nov. 2008:  Train station Masarykovo nádraží in Prague 1 - Arrival hall
  • 11. Nov. - 28. Nov.2008: DDM Prague 3 - ULITA, Na Balkáně 100
  • 9. Dec. 2008 - 31. Jan. 2009: Community Center ANGEL in Prague 12, Angelovova 3183, Praha 12 – Modřany

The Photographs were made in project "Cultures from Around the Block", which was organized by Multicultural Center Prague as a part of European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008. The exhibtion is part of the festival Dialogue of Cultures 2008, dedicated to meeting and blending of different cultures, languages and religions in the Czech Republic.

In Prague, representing the Czech Republic, was chosen as the main medium classic black and white photography. There were two groups that participated in the project that lasted from February to June 2008. The first group consisted of pupils from the Secondary School Havlíčkovo náměstí located in Prague´s district Žižkov known for its significant size of Roma community living there. The second secondary school was based in Modřany, one of the biggest housing estates of Prague.

Under the expert guidance during the workshops they learnt not only how to handle black and white photography, its technique and composition as well as possibilities that this traditional medium brings along. But the black and white photography was also perceived as an important medium in the processes of mutual communication and self-expression. The aim of the workshops was to give children an interesting new skill and means to introduce the world to people outside their community and to establish contact with them.

The workshops – as the vital part of our project – took place at the schools under the leadership of David Kummermann, Simon Chang and Karel Tuma, professional and experienced photographers. Every other week, the kids gathered and met up with the  photographers. During their lessons they discussed their own photographs, problems that emerged in the process of taking the photographs and their further ideas where to aim the attention. In the meantime, the kids worked on their „homeworks“ that consisted of such tasks like taking a self-portrait, trying to capture the typical situation in their homes and among friends groups.
 
"Our aim was not to lecture them on the plurality of cultures, but through the authentic experience rouse their attention and interest about such topics. The contribution of the workshops is the cultivation of their photographic vision, deeper understanding of image itself as well as getting on with the kids from the partner group from the other school", explain the photographers, leaders of the workshops.

"At first, we expected to see pictures that we´ve seen so many times already – pictures of a naive character and a simple message. But now, when we have a look at the pictures taken by the kids we worked with, we can see very clear and simple works of art, not embellished with unnecessary effects. The pictures – as we see them – are very sincere and true when it comes to their contents and meanings. The pictures are like life stories of 12-13 years old kids that depict some of the important moments of their lives that are still clouded with secret for us", conclude the photographers.

The resulting photographs coming from the workshops are shown to broad public through the exhibition called „Together About Ourselves“ that is taking place in Prague – railway station Masarykovo nádraží from October 7th to November 5th 2008. The exhibition will move in November to the DDM in Prague 3 – ULITA and in December to the Community centre ANGEL in Prague 12.

Here you can find documentary photographs from the workshops or photographs from the exhibition „Together About Ourselves“.

The aim of the project "Cultures from Around the Block" was to rediscover and thoroughly understand the principles and character of local communities present today within large European cities - Bratislava, Brussels, Bucurest, Coventry, Offenbach, Prague and Warsaw. Each of seven partner organizations created local media projects with the participation of students from two different high schools. The students´ goal was to examine and capture the image of their surroundings using chosen media, which could be photography, sound, written word or film. This, the students were expected to get to know both the place they live in and the world around them better while developing a deeper insight and broader outlook. The projects of participating organizations created a territory for the exchange of information about diverse groups that are currently present in Europe.  

Project included a wide spectrum of creative activities, e.g. documentary film shooting, creating a web site informing people about the process of local integration and finally, presenting the results arising from the local projects. Project Culture Block was supported by non-profit organizations from Prague, Offenbach, Bucurest, Bratislava, Warsaw, Brussels and Vienna.

Methods that were used in the project were based on the fact that the sense of collective activity and the joy arising from products of such activities help the young people to overcome prejudice and social barriers. This enables interpersonal interaction and communication that break the stereotypes and wall built by their own cultures.

The project "Cultures from Around the Block" was realised from January 1st, 2008 till December 31st, 2008 with support by the European Union within the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.

  • Datum: Tuesday, 7 Oct 2008 to Saturday, 5 Jan 2008
  • Category: Aktuální
  • Region: Praha
  • Location: Masarykova nádraží v Praze 1
  • Type: Výstavy a veletrhy
  • Domain: Kultura