Them–and–Us brings together 20 European and 20 African visual artists, designers, illustrators and photographers to explore the similarities and the differences between their respective worldviews and visual sensibilities. The artists have been paired — one from Europe and one from Africa. Each pairing has selected a theme and then designed a double-sided poster: one side European, the other African. Communication, discussion and the cross-pollination of ideas, opinions and styles have been actively encouraged, and the resulting posters form a vivid dialogue centred on the notion of Them–and–Us, and the broader themes of tolerance and intolerance, as seen from the respective cultural viewpoints. This package contains all 20 double-sided posters. It also houses a 56-page booklet profiling all the artists involved and detailing the purpose and processes of the project. As well as interviews with each artist, there are also excerpts of discussions taken from the online forum used by the participants to debate their individual and collective approaches. Them–and–Us was exhibited in Durban, Cape Town, Stockholm and London in 2010. All proceeds from sales went to Amnesty International to help in the global fight against intolerance.
Curators
Richard Hart and Adrian Shaughnessy
Info
R2 is the signature of the designers and artists Lizá Défossez Ramalho (Troyes, France) and Artur Rebelo (Porto, Portugal). R2’s practice extends beyond conventional boundaries, navigating both typical graphic design’s two-dimensional mediums and architectural landscapes. R2 has earned global acclaim for its groundbreaking projects that contributed to redefine the boundaries of the design field. Driven by an unwavering commitment to excellence, they passionately devote themselves to crafting high-quality, both conceptually and visually, designed projects. R2 Design studio was co-founded in 1995 by Defossez Ramalho & Rebelo and works with cultural institutions and commercial clients in fields ranging from culture and lifestyle to industry. R2’s multidisciplinary approach allows them to respond effectively to a wide range of projects from Dam Signage in the Douro River (with Souto de Moura-Architects) to extensive branding that includes typography on building ceilings (Casa & typography do Conto), to a complex museum graphic identity with more than 14 locations (Museu do Porto). Recent projects includes branding project for Évora 2027, European Culture Capital in 2027 as well as for Vhils Studio.
Art Practice
Drawings
Visual Essays
Photography
Film
Sculpture
Spacial
Design Office
Art Direction
Graphic Design
Identity
Exhibition
Wayfinding