The Americans I Met
The Americans I met is a photographic and oral history project that captures the essence of contemporary America during the Trump Era 2016-2020. Over two years, Hübner hitchhiked across 41 states, covering more than 16,000 miles with only a camera, audio recorder, and minimal provisions. He immersed himself in diverse communities, relying on chance encounters and the hospitality of strangers every day and night.
Through intimate portraits and candid conversations, Hübner explores American identity, revealing the hopes, fears, and aspirations of individuals from all walks of life – prison guards, vagabonds, religious leaders, drug dealers, cowboy or plastic surgeons. Spanning bustling cities to remote towns, his lens captures the diversity and nuance of culture, highlighting the complexities and contradictions within American society. Hübner’s journey reflects the broader social and political landscape, offering an outsider’s perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by those he met.
The Americans I met serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring quest for connection during a pivotal period. Through photographs, recorded conversations, and personal stories, Hübner invites viewers to embark on a thought-provoking journey through the heart of America.
Viktor Hübner
Viktor Hübner, born in Gummersbach, Germany in 1988, is a visual storyteller focused on the human experience through photography, audio, and writing. Influenced by his family’s survival stories as Russian German repatriates, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in visual communication from the University of Applied Sciences Mainz and a Master of Fine Arts in photography from the Rhode Island School of Design. His notable projects include Onkel Franz, Das Leben ist für uns, and The Americans I Met. A recipient of the Fulbright scholarship, Hübner now resides in Tromsø, Norway, where he continues to craft compelling visual narratives.
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