Forming a group

Designed for young audiences and families, La Petite Galerie offers a sensitive introduction to photography through a selection of works from the MEP's collections. The exhibition In dialogue with the exhibition Dana Lixenberg — American Images , we invite you to explore the theme of “forming a group”. Forming a group is not just about bringing people together; it is a shared adventure built day by day throughout life, through shared moments, gestures and ideas, by getting to know each other, acting together and gradually forging a sense of ‘us’. But forming a group is not always easy. Sometimes we feel very close, at other times we may feel a little left out. Through our shared interests, our exchanges, our connections, we can belong to multiple groups. Photographic artists have observed these human gatherings and seek to reveal the visible and invisible bonds between people. Some have highlighted the strength of the collective: solidarity, cooperation, shared emotions. Others have focused on the rules, roles and shared signs that make a group recognisable: clothing, gestures, attitudes or looks. Photography can help us better understand what it means to be together. It invites us to observe how bonds are formed, how individuals come together and become a collective. Now it’s your turn to look at these images. Who forms a group? How? And you, who would you like to form a group with?