More than Meets the Eye: An Immersive Display of Narrative Power through Photos

By harnessing the power of personal narratives and universal themes of resilience, peace, and hope that connect us across borders and experiences, More than Meets the Eye encourages viewers to see their own lives and communities through a new and empathetic lens.

Inspired by a visit from 12-foot puppet Little Amal in 2023, A Picture’s Worth and Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra began collaborations in an effort to help people better understand the experiences of immigrants and refugees through art. The exhibition consists of photographs of, and provided by, local immigrants and refugees, as well as companion audio stories that capture their “backstories.”

A Picture’s Worth bases much of its work on the understanding that every photograph represents multiple stories that shift depending on who is centered in it and whose perspective is being shared. The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra adds a layer of music written by immigrants and refugees to enhance the exhibition’s narrative power, expanding opportunities for the public to connect with a wide-range of seldom-heard backstories of their neighbors.

More than Meets the Eye is presented at two Participating Venues, as part of the FotoFocus Biennial. This exhibition is presented with More than Meets the Eye: Multimedia Narratives that Connect on view at the Cincinnati Hamilton Public Library: Walnut Hills Branch.