As our next evolutionary step following Portrait of Britain, we are pleased to announce a global exhibition, together with Magnum Photos: Portrait of Humanity. The aim of this new initiative is to create one of the most far-reaching collaborative photography exhibitions in history.
We launched Portrait of Britain two years ago, as a way to combat the divisions created by Brexit, and to build a body of work reflecting our diverse and united nation. And now, as we prepare to celebrate Portrait of Britain’s first ever book launch, we are introducing an international project to overcome our differences, transcend borders, and connect as a global community through the power of photography.
“Portrait of Britain has been a phenomenon – a celebration of British culture and diversity, seen by millions of people and growing to become the most viewed photographic exhibition ever,” says Marc Hartog, CEO of 1854 Media. “Our mission now is to expand this to a global platform. Portrait of Humanity is essentially the same concept but on a global scale, asking photographers to show us what humanity means through their eyes, and what unites us, not just as one nation but as human beings.”
Through Portrait of Humanity, we have created a timely reminder that we are all united by our shared humanity. By portraying the unity of human beings around the world, we hope to create a portrait of our international community, that expresses the universal through the individual.
Entries to Portrait of Humanity open today, inviting images from photographers of any level, from anywhere in the world. We want to see portraits that capture the many faces of humanity, and document the universal expressions of life; laughter, courage, moments of reflection, journeys to work, first hellos, last goodbyes, and everything that happens in between. What’s normal to one person, might be extraordinary to someone else.
Our overall aim is to create one of the greatest collaborative photography exhibitions in history, celebrating our shared values of individuality, community and unity. Of the entries, 200 longlisted photographs will be chosen to be included in a Portrait of Humanity Book, where readers can delve into the photographs, and read the stories of people from all over the world. And 50 shortlisted photographs will be exhibited around the world as part of a global touring exhibition, from August to December 2019. Exhibitions, venues and destinations will be revealed next month.
And three finalists, including one overall winner, will be chosen by our panel of judges to share $10,000, so they can each create a photographic project that further explores their interpretation of humanity.
Do you want to be part of the movement? Enter before 8 January 2019. Together, we will create a Portrait of Humanity.
Written by Sarah Roberts
Originally published at www.portraitofhumanity.co