The German-American Institute Tübingen (dai) is hosting a photo exhibition by renowned photographer Mark Tuschman until 25 April, featuring black-and-white portraits of immigrants who have come to the United States from all over the world. They came from Central and South America, especially Venezuela and Colombia, but also from many Asian and African countries. The photos are accompanied by short texts about the lives of the people portrayed.
Under the motto “Together We Rise,” Californian photographer Mark Tuschman aims to highlight the important contribution immigrants make to American society and the economy. In his photographs, Tuschman tells the diverse and real-life stories of people with immigrant experience: for three years, Tuschman met immigrants and refugees from all walks of—from workers to highly skilled professionals. In doing so, he recognised how indispensable they are to America’s survival, contributing significantly to agriculture, the economy, education and healthcare.
Telling stories of humanity through photos
Tuschman writes about the background to his photos, which he has also published in a book: “At a time when people are increasingly polarised in their views and are increasingly misinformed by unscrupulous traditional media and social media platforms, and when prejudice against immigrants is unfortunately on the rise, our politicians often exacerbate the situation. As a photographer, I believe that sunlight is the best disinfectant. With these photos and stories, I have tried to clearly highlight our common humanity and our shared hopes. The people I present here come from a variety of countries and ethnic backgrounds. Each of them brings their own unique skills and talents—as well as their personal pain and heartache. “The motto of the exhibition, “Together we Rise!”, is ambiguous and can be translated into German as “Together we rise” or “Together we grow”.
Mark Tuschman is an internationally renowned photographer from Menlo Park, California. He specialises in global health and development issues and was named “Photographer of the Year” by the Global Health Council in 2009/10, among other honours.
The exhibition is on display at the German-American Institute in Tübingen, Karlstr. 3, until 25 April 2026, Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free.
Mark Tuschman’s book can also be viewed online: Book | Together We Rise
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