What makes a city a city? Is it the houses and the buildings, the streets and canals? Is it the people and the things they do? Is it perhaps the cohesion and history of all of that together? Or is there still something else that lies behind these visible facets of the city? Something that seems to elusively slip away each time one tries to put one's finger on it, an undercurrent that reflects the character of a city but at the same time is so ordinary that it never catches the eye of most of those living there?

Noorderlicht has asked to sketch the 'undercurrent' of the city of Groningen. They were asked to look for those facets of the city that form the character of Groningen but are at the same time so common that even the inhabitants hardly notice them. In other words, we asked them to be strangers in a city we think we know. The result: Promised Land. An exhibition and a book and about Groningen and its people. But not like any tourist brochure. It is about the streets and the light, the travellers and the distance, the walls and the people, the views and the darkness, the little secrets and the big mysteries, the life on stage and in the wings.

Exclusive exhibition for rent:

Photographers
Five internationally acclaimed photographers: Anders Petersen (Sweden), Antoine d'Agata (France), Ken Schles (United States), John Davies (Great Britain) and Adrienne van Eekelen (The Netherlands). The photographers form a select group, they have received numerous awards for their methods and accomplishments. Noorderlicht offered them free reign in choosing their subjects and locations.

Curating
Production and curating Noorderlicht, 2005.

Catalogue
A catalogue appeared with Promised Land. It contains an introduction by Jacques Wallage, Mayor of Groningen as well as contributions (in Dutch and English) by writers like Tommy Wieringa, Gerrit Krol and Peter Middendorp, by city poet Bart FM Droog and by Frits Gierstberg of the Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam. Visit our bookshop for more details.

Size of the exhibition
In consultation with Noorderlicht you can make a suitable selection, tailored to the space you have available.

Presentation
The exhibition contains 119 framed images (with as well as without glass), of which 78 are color and 41 black and white images. The sizes of the frames vary, from 50x50 cm (smallest) to 100x100 cm (largest). We can advise you with regard to layout and design.

Availability
The exhibition is available through 2010.

Contact us now for a fact sheet of Promised Land by emailing us or call +31 (0)50 318 22 27.