The choice of theme of the Fotofestival
The choice of theme for the photo festival: the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are to be achieved globally and by all UN member states by 2030. This means that all states are equally called upon to solve the world’s pressing challenges together. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals take into account the economic, social and environmental dimensions of this task in a balanced way and bring together poverty reduction and sustainable development in one agenda for the first time.
The exhibition concept comprises 17 SDGS „theme islands“. For each SDG theme island, one or two narratives are shown that relate to each other and inspire new ways of looking at our world and understanding the complex happenings in our society. These photographs open the view for something new, good, not self-evident, because the other is also shown. ETH Zurich complements the theme islands with relevant research results.
The routes of the festival
The theme islands can be reached on foot or by public transport. The tour is divided into a city route from the Polyterrasse of the ETH Zurich via the Lindenhof down to the Limmat around the old town churches to Bellevue and a lake route from the General Guisan Quai to the lakeside resort of Enge.
City route
1 Polyterrasse / ETH Zürich
2 Lindenhof
3 Kirche St.Peter
4 Münsterhof
5 Wühre
6 Limmatquai
7 Grossmünster
Lake route
8 General Guisan Quai mit Besucherzentrum
9 Arboretum
10 Seebad Enge
The exhibitions of OPEN YOUR EYES 2023
SDG 1 NO POVERTY / 8 General Guisan Quai
By 2030, no person in the world should have to live in extreme poverty – that is, on less than $1.90 a day.
- Peter Menzel (USA) Material World with photographs by Alexandra Boulat, Miguel Luis Fairbanks, Peter Ginter, Leong Ka Tai and Louis Psihoyos.
- Renée Byer (USA) Living on a Dollar a Day
SDG 2 ZERO HUNGER / 3 Kirche St. Peter
End hunger, ensure food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
- George Steinmetz (USA) Feeding the Planet
SDG 3 GOOD HEALTH AND WELL BEING / 2 Lindenhof
Ensuring healthy living and promoting well-being for all.
- Esther Haase (DE) Rock’n Old
SDG 4 QUALITY EDUCATION / 1 Polyterrasse / ETH and 2 Lindenhof
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Chris de Bode (NL) I have a Dream
Maryam Firuzi (IR) Reading for Tehran Streets
Special exhibition CERN The Code of the Universe – Future Circular Collider
SDG 5 GENDER EQUALITY / 11 Seebad Enge
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
- Anna Boyiazis (USA) Finding Freedom in the Water
- Cooper & Gorfer (USA, AT) From the Tales
SDG 6 CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION / 9 Arboretum
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
- Randy Olson (USA) The Plastic Predicament
SDG 7 AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY / 3 Kirche St. Peter
Ensure access to affordable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
- Ciril Jazbec (SL) Make your own Glaciers
SDG 8 DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH / 8 General Guisan Quai
Decent work and promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment.
- Cassio Vasconcellos (BR) Beyond Reality
SDG 9 INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE / 8 General Guisan Quai
Building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and supporting innovation.
- Jerome Gence (Reunion/FR) I Love A Hologram
- Gerd Ludwig (USA) The Long Shadow of Chernobyl
SDG 10 REDUCED INEQUALITIES / 03 Kirche St. Peter
Reducing inequality within and between countries.
- Jodi Cobb (USA) 21st Century Slavery
- Ana María Arévalo Gosen (VEN) Días Eternos | Eternal Days
SDG 11 SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES / 2 Lindenhof
Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
- eoVision/Satelliten-Fotografie (AT) The Human Footprint
SDG 12 RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION / 4 Münsterhof
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
- Vera Mercer (DE) Of Becoming and Passing: The Joy of Life and Vanitas
- Dominic Nahr (CH) Organic cheese – made in Switzerland
SDG 13 CLIMATE ACTION / 10 Arboretum
Take urgent action to address climate change and its impacts.
- Shana & Robert ParkeHarrison (USA) Reporting the Future
- James Balog (USA) A Time Capsule from the Anthropocene
SDG 14 LIFE BELOW WATER / 5 Wühre, Limmatquai
Conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
- David Doubilet (USA) Two Worlds: Above and Below the Sea
- Jennifer Hayes (USA) Two Worlds: Above and Below the Sea
SDG 15 LIFE ON LAND / 10 Seebad Enge
Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.
- Michael Nichols (USA) WILD
SDG 16 PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS / 10 Seebad Enge
Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
- Goran Tomašević (RS) WAR
SDG 17 PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS / 7 Grossmünster
Strengthen resources to implement and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
- Rina Castelnuovo & Jim Hollander (IL) Lonka Project, with photos of: Tsafrir Abayov, Eli Reed, Steve McCurry, Bea Bar Kallos, Roger Ballen, Ziv Koren