The I Love You Project is a global social art project founded by artist Debbie Davies. The purpose of the project is to celebrate diversity and share intentions of peace, acceptance, and love across cultures.
Participants are videotaped and photographed saying "I Love You" in their native language using digital microscope cameras. The images and voice recordings are combined with music to create an immersive multi-media installation. The microscope technology, which is actually a child's toy, creates unexpected reflections of skin tone, sometimes capturing what is beneath the skin, and showing that we are all human underneath.
During the photo sessions, participants are encouraged to spend time telling their personal stories - especially displacement or migration - and describing their personal and cultural definitions of “love”. The highly emotional and connected experience participants share - saying "I Love You" into the camera - exemplifies the healing power of this phrase. This interaction creates a connection between participants and the artist. The message of love reverberates through the images and voices of people of different cultures and religions. People arrive to the project as strangers and depart as friends.
The project has been conducted in Barcelona (Spain), Kyiv (Ukraine) and in the German cities of Berlin, Frankfurt, and Giessen thus far. It has been screened in many other countries including Australia, Thailand, Italy, and Poland.
The project headquarters is located in Berlin at LiTE-HAUS Galerie + Projektraum which was founded by Debbie Davies. Additional recordings are conducted there, and the project is exhibited in the space periodically - between other exciting exhibitions by international emerging contemporary artists.
If you want to donate to the project, you can donate to LiTE-HAUS. See the link with the big red heart at the top of the screen. One time donations or recurring donations are welcome!