Light for the invisible: Festival of photography against homelessness in Berlin

Light for the invisible: Festival of photography against homelessness in Berlin

As part of this year's Berlin Festival of Lights, which takes place from October 10th to 19th, there is an interesting innovation: for the first time, photographs of homeless people will be projected onto facades in the city. This initiative, which is supported by the Caritas Association, aims to draw attention to the critical situation of homeless and homeless people in Berlin.

“The photographs approach a social problem of great relevance in an artistic way – homelessness and the associated exclusion of people,” explained Ulrike Kostka, director of the Caritas Association for the Archdiocese of Berlin. The images are intended not only to represent the reality of life for the homeless, but also to raise awareness of the challenges they face.

Art as the voice of the invisible

Caritas emphasizes that many people without a permanent address try to remain invisible in the city. They avoid attracting attention and look for inconspicuous places to live out their meager everyday lives. However, this displacement from visibility has deeper social causes that are often overlooked. The photographs are intended to shed light on exactly this problem and encourage people to think about the fate of those affected.

The photographs were taken by the freelance artist Debora Ruppert, who addresses social injustices worldwide in her work. Her works can not only be seen in Berlin, but also cover topics such as escape, human trafficking, poverty and forced prostitution. The decision to depict the topic of homelessness artistically is a conscious step to invite the public to dialogue.

With large-scale images of the homeless, an appealing format was chosen to make people think. These visual impulses are not only directed at the problems, but also at the people behind them, who are often forgotten. By telling their stories through art, Caritas hopes to create a deeper connection between society and those living in need.

“We want the audience to rethink their perspectives and perhaps also find the courage to talk to those affected,” Kostka continued. The initiative is not only a beautiful visual expression, but also a serious appeal to the Berlin population to take action.

For more information about this important project and the artists and themes involved, see the current reporting on www.rbb24.de.