Homo Empathicus looks for new optimism, beyond today’s feelings of frustration, alienation and discontent. The homo empathicus is diametrically opposed to the homo economicus, who merely values his environment in terms of individual gain. The homo empathicus embodies a new start in the world of tomorrow, where there is room for ‘together’ and not just for ‘I’.

Homo Empathicus, the catalogue for the 5th edition of the BredaPhoto festival, is a collection of works by photographers who have sought both alternatives and examples of a more involved and empathic coexistence. They’ve explored new forms of personal and shared responsibilities. They’ve searched the homo empathicus in others and inside themselves.

Including work by Larry Towell, Mikhael Subotzky, Carel van Hees, Irina Rozovsky, Willem Poelstra, Tiina Itkonen, Evgenia Arbugaeva, Alejandro Cartagena, Adam Broomberg & Oliver Chanarin, Jeroen Kramer, Yamamoto Masao, Lara Gasparotto, Dani Gal, Tendance Floue, Donald Weber, and many more.

And a thought-provoking essay, written by Belgian writer Inge Henneman.