ME/YOU, US/THEM

‘How to live together’ is a fundamental question of our human existence

‘How to live together’ is fundamental to our human existence. Today, we live in a reality more closely intertwined than ever, yet becoming more and more deeply divided. Not just because of the multitude of identities crowding our world, based on country, region, tribe, religion, culture, social class, or skin colour, not just because of ‘Us and Them’. Also because of ‘Me and You’: because we live in a world where people as individuals are increasingly unable to get along, from fighting their next-door neighbours to opposing anyone with a different opinion or background to the growing fear of strangers – of anyone other.

In this world, characterised by unprecedented global connectivity, governments are reinforcing borders and building new walls and fences while social and economic inequalities persist and grow. The exhibition ‘ME/YOU, US/THEM’ presents the work of artists, designers, and architects who explore the intricate knots of identity, the multitude of coexisting identities, the concepts of ‘me’ and ‘you’, ‘us’ and ‘them’, and how we do, or do not, get along.

The exhibition will examine the issue of ‘how to live together’ on a scale varying from nation-states' border politics to individuals' interactions. By valuing and embracing diversity, societies can unlock their potential for innovation, creativity, and social progress. Ultimately, it all starts with our willingness, or unwillingness, to live together in a world of contradictions.

The exhibition 'ME/YOU, US/THEM' is on show from 12 April until 20 June 2024.