‘peru, cusco, primary grade 4, mathematics’ by julian germain from his ‘classroom portraits’ series all images courtesy julian germain

british artist julian germain has completed his photographic survey entitled ‘the future is ours: classroom portraits 2004 – 2012’ of children in classrooms across the globe. germain first stepped into schools around north east england, then moving into schools through the UK to europe, north and south america, asia and the middle east through out the course of his project. each image features a group of school children looking, typically with vacant stares, at the photographer’s lens. pupils of varied age, country and school system at a moment of attention. the series features a collection of stills picturing students in a moment of their learning paused within the educational space. through this passing documentation, germain is able to capture a great range of expression within each classroom as each pupil wears their unique experiences of education as they turn towards his camera.

a book entitled ‘classroom portraits 2004 – 2012’ by julian germain published by prestel publishing has been released. countries featured in the 208 page book of classrooms portraits include the uk, argentina, brazil, peru, cuba, netherlands, spain, germany, hungary, russia, bangladesh, yemen, bahrain, qatar, ethiopia, nigeria, usa, taiwan, japan.

‘taiwan, ruei fang township, kindergarten, art’

top left to bottom left: ‘wales, felindre, reception and years 1 & 2, numeracy’; ‘qatar, grade 10, religion’; ‘qatar, grade 8, english’; ‘england, washington, year 7 (first day), registration’

top left to bottom left: ‘england, bradford, year 7, art’; ‘usa, st louis, grade 4 & 5, geography’; ‘yemen, sanaa, secondary year 2, english’; ‘tokyo, japan, grade 5, classical japanese’

top left to bottom left: ‘england, wolsingham, year 12, english’; ‘cuba, havana, playa, year 9, national television screening of film ‘can gamba’ (about cuban participation in angolan revolution)’; ‘saudi arabia, dammam, kindergarden, activities’; ‘peru, tiracanchi, secondary grade 2, mathematics’

top left to bottom left: ‘yemen, manakha, primary year 2, science revision’; ‘england, keighley, year 6, history’; ‘holland, drouwenermond, primary year 5, 6, 7 & 8, history’; ‘bahrain, saar, grade 11, islamic’

top left to bottom left: ‘brazil, belo horizonte, series 6, mathematics’; ‘holland, heerenveen, secondary year 1, sports day’; ‘nigeria, kano, ooron dutse, senior islamic secondary level 2, social studies’; ‘england, seaham, reception and year 1, structured play’

top left to bottom left: ‘usa, oklahoma, barnsdall, grade 4 & 5, science’; ‘brazil, cipó, series 4, geography’; ‘england, erith, year 10, english’; ‘usa, oklahoma, avant, grade 4 & 5 social sciences’

top left to bottom left: ‘argentina, buenos aires, san fernando, year 3 secondary’; ‘the netherlands, rotterdam, secondary group 3, motor mechanics’; ‘argentina, buenos aires, grade 4, natural science’; ‘germany, düsseldorf, year 7, english’

via visual news