photo: © Jeroen Swolfs
Dutch photojournalist Jeroen Swolfs travelled around the world between 2009 and 2016, photographing street life in every national capital for the unique project Streets of the World.
Two different editions of the photo book Streets of the World were published: the standard edition and a larger Limited Deluxe edition that included an exclusive art print. Its 436 pages feature a photograph of street life from each of 195 countries on every spread, arranged by continent. Each photograph is accompanied by the reason for choosing the location, an explanation of the image, and facts and figures about the country.
Connection
The exhibition and photo book have a clear purpose. Streets of the World is a unique photographic project intended to foster a sense of connection and engagement. It offers a rare look behind the scenes in capitals that the media often portray only as dangerous and unsettled. “My photographs show another side of the story, one that offers engagement, connection, and hope,” Swolfs said.
At the time of publication, Swolfs had yet to photograph streets in the capitals of Yemen, Libya, and Equatorial Guinea. “Although I still have three countries to go, in these times of polarisation, unrest, and growing fear of war and terrorism, I do not want to wait to share my story with the same world that I have been privileged to photograph and get to know over the past seven years.”
“Despite differences in customs, colours, religions, and surroundings, I see the same beautiful qualities and values that connect people everywhere: resilience and solidarity, friendship and love, desires and needs. As my journey progressed, that emerged as the central message of Streets of the World: to show how alike we are, not how different.”
Streets of the World was exhibited at De Nieuwe Kerk in 2016 through World Press Photo. National Geographic followed Swolfs on his travels and made a documentary about them. At the time of publication, it was due to be broadcast again soon.
Streets of the World — Jeroen Swolfs
Pages: 436
Price at publication: €17.50
Publisher: Terra. Language: English. This article refers to the English-language edition.
