We Are 17

“We Are 17” is a creative project that bridges generations through photography. Inspired by renowned Dutch filmmaker Johan Van der Keuken’s 1955 photo album We Are 17, which captured the essence of youth in a post-war world, the initiative brings together today’s 17-year-olds to reflect on their lives and connect with the past. The project not only preserves historical memory but also empowers young people to explore their identity, share their perspectives, and document meaningful moments using photography and audiovisual tools.

The project spans three countries—Lithuania, Spain, and Romania—uniting organizations with extensive experience in cultural and arts education. In Lithuania, the initiative is led by the Media Education and Research Center Meno Avilys.

In 2024, creative workshops took place in each participating country, bringing together groups of teenagers to create portraits of one another under the guidance of professional photographers with extensive experience in education. After honing their skills, the young participants shifted their focus to the older generation, photographing individuals now in their 70s and 80s—those who were 17 back in 1955. The portraits captured a blend of authenticity and artistic excellence, showcasing the unique perspective of the teens and the expertise of their mentors.

In 2025, Johan Van der Keuken’s We Are 17 photo series will be exhibited alongside works created by the project participants in Spain, Romania, and Lithuania. The exhibition, featuring 200 photographs, aims to foster a sense of unity and international collaboration among young people from different countries. Each exhibition will run for four to six weeks and will be accompanied by a variety of educational events, including workshops on creative writing, sound, and photography, film screenings, and discussions on historical memory and its many interpretations. Experiences from both the participants and visitors will be captured in a digital catalog created specifically for the exhibition.

In Lithuania, the international exhibition will be hosted at the Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum in late March 2025.

In 2026, the focus will shift to disseminating the project’s methodology and results, fostering reflection and engagement with local, regional, and international institutions.

Project Organizers

The Audiovisual Arts Association A Bao A Qu (Spain), the Cultural Association Contrasens (Romania), and the Media Education and Research Center Meno Avilys (Vilnius, Lithuania).

Project Collaborators

In Lithuania, the creative workshops are led by photographers Artūras Morozovas and Vilma Samulionytė, as well as photographer and filmmaker Aistė Žegulytė.

Institutions: Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum, CCBC (Barcelona Contemporary Culture Center), Catalonia Film Archive, Fujifilm, and others.

The project is funded by the European Union through the Creative Europe program’s Culture subprogram and the Lithuanian Council for Culture.