United Nations Literacy Decade
On the occasion of the worldwide decade of the world’s Literacy of the United Nations that started in 2003 and wants to fight the world’s illiteracy on a long term basis that writing and reading are basic abilities and enable us to participate in our information society.
Illiteracy used to be considered to be a problem of developing countries but especially since the “P.I.S.A.-Studie” revealed that insufficient ability to write and to read destroys equal opportunities also in highly developed countries.In this age of globalization and increasing migration means it seems to be even more important to overcome the stigma of illiteracy.
Celebrities of all kinds and nations are asked to let themselves be photographed in a special context. The portrait will be confronted with a text who will be handwritten by the one portrayed. The subject can be freely chosen or can deal with the writer’s own personal view of illiteracy.
Therefore the “words”–series wants through handwritten texts by well-known personalities to address those people afflicted by this problem. It is supposed to focus on this special problem in an artistic way, on one hand in order to break the taboo of illiteracy and to bring it to the general public, but also to show on the other hand that illiteracy is able to attach importance to art and this can fight the shameful feeling to be let alone.
The former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany HELMUT SCHMIDT, 2007
Opening of the exhibition „words“ by Holger Jacobs at Anne Moerchen gallery in Hamburg
The American architect DANIEL LIBESKIND drew the master plan for the renewal of One World Trade Center
American theater director ROBERT WILSON is considered one of the most important figures in contemporary theater. He has worked with Merce Cunningham, George Balanchine, John Cage, Philip Glass, Tom Waits, and Lady Gaga. He won the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 1993 and the European Theatre Prize in 1997.
Rock singer SIR BOB GELDOF became famous for organizing the 1985 LIVE AID For Africa concert. It took place simultaneously in London and Philadelphia, becoming the biggest rock concert of all time.
Nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize 1986.
German film director WIM WENDERS, won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1982 for his film „Paris Texas“ and the Best Director award for „Wings of Desire“ in 1987. He has been nominated four times for the Academy Awards: in 2000, 2012, 2015, and 2024.
German actress ANNA-MARIA MÜHE, daughter of actor Ulrich Mühe („The Lives of Others,“ Florian von Donnersmarck), won the New Faces Award in 2003, was named Shooting Star of the 2012 European Film Promotion, and won the 2023 Bavarian Film Prize.