“The exhibition PEOPLE, DIVERSITY, FUTURE – SHOW YOUR FACE! RAISE YOUR VOICE!” was created as a tool for educational and public outreach so that the cultural diversity of the people in the university town of Marburg and the Marburg-Biedenkopf district becomes visible as a statement and a symbol against xenophobia and racism,” explains Thomas Gebauer in an interview. Visitors can get a glimpse into his work in the atrium of the Steinmühle.
People think and feel differently, have different values and norms, and do not share a uniform conception of happiness. And yet all people deserve the same respect, regardless of their background, religion, or skin color. Thirty-five of the 120 exhibits in the “People, Diversity, Future” exhibition are currently on display in the atrium of the Steinmühle. The answers to the question, “What is my greatest happiness?” are just as diverse.
With this work, Thomas Gebauer aims to encourage reflection on the pursuit of happiness as a collective need and the sociocultural foundation of human civilization. In the future as well, activities accompanying the exhibition and writing projects, for example, are intended to deepen and broaden the understanding “that we are one indivisible human family, in which all people, without exception, share human rights and bear joint responsibility for all life and for the future of the Earth,” according to his statement.
A dynamic impetus for reflection
Thomas Gebauer thus provides a dynamic impetus for reflection on human happiness. Happiness, a concept that often devolves into a cliché when put into words, can indeed be described precisely and individually—but this takes time. “During the two years of preparation for this exhibition, I waited a very long time and with great patience for some of the answers, and in doing so I learned that human happiness seems to be something that is found rather than sought, and that while it varies greatly depending on people’s life situations, it always revolves around a core understanding of happiness.” “Everything takes time” also applied to the numerous appointments Gebauer had to organize over the two-year production period in order to photograph the approximately 140 women, men, teenagers, and children. A photographic presentation of the exhibition even includes 140 exhibits.
“In a specially produced exhibition newsletter, I published not only photos of the people and their thoughts on happiness but also a logo designed specifically for the “People, Diversity, Future” exhibition, in which the sun (light/insight), a sail (moon/tool), and a ship (Earth/human family) are integrated in multicolored form into the words PEOPLE DIVERSITY FUTURE,” explains Gebauer.
Everyone defines happiness differently
For me, happiness is “…being healthy…” “…my family being well…” “…being able to drink an Äppler in my Weidenhausen…”. – Some answers come up more often, while others are unique. Responses to the question of personal happiness often revolve around peace or spending time with loved ones. But there are other responses as well: “I’m happiest when I’m not thinking about whether I’m happy.” Or even “…I’m happy when all the plastic disappears from the oceans.”
People, Diversity, Future – “Show Your Face! Raise Your Voice!” is a very ambitious exhibition project. In October 2017, the association “Vielfalt Marburg e.V.” was able to secure Thomas Gebauer to bring the project to life, and Gebauer ultimately completed and unveiled it in October 2019. The theme fits well into current debates, explains chairwoman Nadine Bernshausen. It is the mission of the association “Vielfalt Marburg e.V.” to further promote a general spirit of internationalism and mutual understanding among people, so that a vibrant utopia can continue to be fostered: Being different should not only be accepted, but can also be perceived as exciting and enriching.
A Tool Against Racism
According to Gebauer, dialogue and shifts in perspective—as cultural tools—along with mutual recognition and understanding among people, are important goals of communication. He himself experienced the exhibition’s development phase as a kind of journey of discovery into the values and ideas that are “essential and truly important” to all people on Earth. Gebauer plans to show the “Human Diversity, Future” exhibition for an initial period of five years as a tool against racism and xenophobia in general, and hopes, “… that, in light of the fascinating diversity of our human family, the fear of what initially seems foreign to us in other people can be overcome in favor of greater openness and curiosity toward people both near us and those from distant, foreign cultural spheres.”
“Thomas Gebauer did a great job with that,” commented Ines Vielhaben, an art teacher at Steinmühle. “There is a great deal of support for this topic at Steinmühle.” She set up the exhibition with the 10th-grade class and the advanced art course and explored the messages it conveyed. The 11th-grade class, led by teacher Stephan Kersten, discussed the topic of “happiness” in their ethics class—it was a perfect fit!
María Rámos, who represents the International Affairs department at Steinmühle, also believes the exhibition fits into the school’s philosophy: “It did a good job of capturing different personalities.” Both teachers agree: “This initiative is an asset to Steinmühle. It inspires people to reflect and reminds them of important values.”
Contact Thomas Gebauer: https://agent21-art-and-repair.de
