The Anonymous Project in Luxembourg

Lux Vitae: From Self to Society

The Anonymous Project by Lee Shulman

Founded by Shulman in 2017, The Anonymous Project collects and preserves vintage color slides from the past 70 years, celebrating everyday moments and untold stories from the pre-digital era. Shulman’s broader practice has earned global recognition through exhibitions like The House at Arles in 2019 and publications such as Mid-Century Memories, named The Times Photography Book of the Year, and Deja View, created with Martin Parr.

Shulman is an internationally renowned artist who explores the evocative power of vernacular photography and offers a fresh perspective on collective memory and visual storytelling. His first exhibition held in Luxembourg: “Lux Vitae: From Self to Society” promises an immersive experience with a selection of work from the “Vitraux” series, reimagining life at Château de Bourglinster and inviting visitors to “rethink photography”.

Anonymous figures from found photographs are transformed into protagonists within sacred narratives, depicted in stained glass windows crafted by the artist. This approach redefines the exhibition space, moving beyond a sterile “white cube” to create an inviting shrine for all. Shulman’s work resonates with iconic public sculptures, blurring boundaries between artistic disciplines and reimagining sacred spaces in contemporary art.

In each “vitrail,” Shulman transports viewers to the 11th-century origins of Bourglinster Castle, elevating ordinary figures into sacred characters. By blending medieval stained glass techniques with contemporary photography, he infuses Biblical symbolism into narratives that weave together personal and collective memories, the sacred and the mundane, past and present. This fusion encourages audiences to reconsider photography’s role in the digital age.

Located in the Municipality of Junglinster, Bourglinster Castle (Luxembourg) provides an ideal setting for Shulman’s witty and insightful exploration of cultural and aesthetic shifts across time.

“The stained glass pieces transport me to a place where the simplest daily gestures feel like rituals. Inspired by traditional church windows, they capture light in a way that elevates these moments into something sacred. They celebrate family, the routines that shape us, and the spiritual presence in moments we often overlook, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.” – Shulman

This exhibiton is part of EMOP 2025 (European Month of Photography – Luxembourg)

Curator: Yasemin Elçi

Produced by: VF ART PROJECTS