A Family of Unlikely Venues

After "The Family of Man" photographic exhibition premiered at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York amidst starkly divided opinions on its design, finding suitable locations for its display during its international tour (1955-1963) became a logistical priority. The United States Information Services (USIS) acquired copies of the exhibition and circulated it as a prime visual object of Cold War cultural diplomacy. Relying on MoMA's International Council, U.S. Embassies, and local private partners, the show was presented in over 40 countries. By the end of its journey, "The Family of Man" had been hosted in numerous constellations: as a stand-alone attraction or embedded in a national fair, inside a UNESCO building, the halls of a university, or a Buddhist temple. Following distinct cases in various geopolitical and cultural contexts within the framework of the FoMLEG Research Project uncovers unexplored local dynamics of the traveling exhibition. Initial findings underline the diversity of adaptations and the impact these had on the exhibition's display, communication, and reception by local audiences.