In a world completely focused and devoted to capitalism, the market and buying and selling, fairs are a sacred place where the objects – but not only – that will characterize tomorrow are presented. In the immense world of the trade show industry, Germany plays a key role, and with more than 170 national trade fairs and 10 million visitors, it has won the role of the world’s most important trade show location. It is these places of encounter and exchange that fascinated the young photographer Jakob Schnetz and led him to dedicate the “Place of Promise” series to them.
Born in Germany in 1991, Jakob showed an interest in photography from an early age, which immediately involved him in projects characterized by a strong journalistic approach. Through his works he wants to present to his public a careful and curated critique of society and its mechanisms, linking to themes such as globalization and economy. And what better way than by capturing the truest side of trade fairs, which according to Jakob Schnetz himself mirror the global, capitalistic society, which is focussed on growth, performance and consumption. For each group of interest there is a different trade show: Arms, sex, pets, IT, livestock, industry, carpets, leisure, tourism, beauty and so forth.
Thus was born Place of Promise, a collection of images taken at over 40 different fairs that capture the moments of breaks, lunches, chats, queues, waits; standardized scenarios in which everyone tries to prevail over others simply because that’s what the system imposes.


