Public Story
The Germans of the 21st Century - Exhibiton in Berlin
With a kaleidoscope of faces on large steles, Toscani's portrait series of 100 oversized photographs on one of Berlin's most symbolic squares paints a picture of Germany's diverse.Toscani photographed more than 800 randomly selected people in various cities in Germany. Of these, he chose 100 whose portraits he shows on 50 large steles. With this kaleidoscope of faces, he paints a picture of the diverse, multicultural and integrative society that Germany has become over the past decades. With his series of portraits, Toscani shows a country that has freed itself from stereotypes and beliefs and welcomes influences from outside. His work is impressive evidence of the changed perception and self-image of Germans and at the same time a testimony to diversity and inclusion as the foundation of progress.
Giovanni Liverani, Chairman of the Board of Generali Deutschland AG, pays tribute to the artistic and political power of the exhibition: "Generali was founded in 1831 in Trieste, then in Austria. We have been in Germany since 1837. In the spirit of multiculturalism, which is in our DNA, we wanted to celebrate the 190th anniversary of our foundation by bringing this installation to Germany. Especially in times like these, when the consequences of the pandemic, a war on European soil and economic challenges are putting society to the test, it is important to emphasise what we have in common and what unites us. This is precisely the concern of our exhibition 'The Germans of the 21st Century'. There could be no more suitable artist for its realisation than Oliviero Toscani. He captures the beauty of our species in all its colours and nuances, sending a homage to Germany and all of humanity."
Through 15.06.2022
Potsdamer Platz, Berlin