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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 AUGUST 2020 5 THIS WEEK PHOTOGRAPHY the Faces of Europe project at the Estonian capital of Tallinn European portraits people that we will select intuitively, in the hopes of creating an interesting and complete 'Malta mix'. How would you describe the realities that artistic photographers like yourself face in your native Germany? What are some of the key challenges that they face, and what would you change about the scene in general? Artists are experiencing a hard time during these very particular times, and not just in Germany. Continuity is certainly a big issue right now. Orders and sales have been rendered irregular, while studio and apartment rents re- main regularly expected. The possibility of a universal basic income should cer- tainly be considered in light of all this. Otherwise, art and culture is doomed to die out slowly. What's next for you? Cyprus! Faces of Europe forms part of the cultural programme of the German presidency of the Council of the Euro- pean Union. For more information on the project, visit: https://www.faceso- feurope.eu/. To find out more about Carsten Sander, visit: https://carsten- sander.com/ "Photography is an ongoing experience in self- reflection, which flows back positively into the work process" ABOUT THE PROJECT Faces of Europe is a cultural-po- litical project initiated by Düssel- dorf-based photographer Carsten Sander in cooperation with the Ger- man Federal Foreign Office. In 80 days through Europe: an ex- traordinary journey takes German photo artist Carsten Sander through all EU member states. In his new project Faces of Europe, he draws a modern and colorful picture of Eu- ropean citizens. Through the eye of his lens we see not only one, but one thousand faces of the European Union - an impressive demonstration of Euro- pean sentiment and an opus about peaceful coexistence and coopera- tion. Through his portraits, Carsten Sander presents one union, enor- mous diversity united in tolerance and shared values. A beautiful idea of unity and uniqueness. The importance of the project The European idea is one of peace, shared values and prosperity. How- ever, to many this idea seems to lose its appeal. Growing nationalism criticism of the EU and its institu- tions are the results. This project aims to be a counterweight to the political-administrative aspect of the European Union, which is pro- portionally overrepresented in the media. Instead, it centers in a con- temporary way on the humanity, emotionality, and visionary power of the European idea. Faces of Europe is a special photo project, which will be realized over a period of three months across Europe, from Rome to Riga, from Dublin to Bilbao. The artist Carsten Sander travels with his Faces of Europe-mobile home in EU-blue and collects portraits, in- terviews and videos of special Euro- peans of all walks of life at his stops along the way. Unsurprisingly, the COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted direct- ly on the project, as it has all our lives. One thousand faces of the EU were to be portrayed, 27 countries to be visited – but the moment the mobile studio was ready to go coin- cided with the beginning of a lock- down in most EU member states. The first photos of this exhibition were taken of citizens from all EU member states living in Berlin. Fi- nally, in mid-June, Sander was able to start his tour throughout the EU and will now, picture by picture, expand the exhibition with further portraits.