The project, titled We are 17. A collective portrait, aims to deconstruct the idealized image that teenagers often project on digital platforms. Using photography, film, and writing, participants share their private spaces, such as bedrooms and neighborhoods, alongside their fears and daily frustrations. The initiative is inspired by the work of photographer Johan van der Keuken, who in 1955 published a book featuring portraits of his high school classmates in Amsterdam.
“"There is no false projection here; we don't want to fit in, we convey who we are."
The exhibition was supported by professionals including filmmaker Jaume Claret Muxart, director of Estrany riu, and the A Bao A Qu association. The layout encourages reflection, featuring mattresses in the rooms for visitors to listen to conversations and watch audiovisual pieces. Additionally, the Filmoteca de Catalunya is running a retrospective on Van der Keuken until March 4, complementing this generational perspective.
