What is democracy? Why has the European Union embraced democratic values? The European Parliament’s Contemporary Art Collection includes a significant number of art pieces that may help address these questions, and let us have an insight into how democracy has been interpreted by visual artists from different countries of the continent.

The selected artworks can be defined as critical and personal visions of each one of the featured artists, who have taken clear positions in favour of defending democracy through their production. They contribute to reinforcing awareness of the need to stand up for democratic freedoms, pointing towards the duty to remain alert and participatory in processes as decisive as the European elections. In this context, they remind us that European citizens also have a role to play in defending democracy by voting in the upcoming European elections in June 2024.

In addition, the exhibition narrative aims to provide valuable perspectives on key aspects that any healthy democracy require, such as the respect of its rules of game and a necessary political engagement from society. Apart from other relevant issues that involve challenges and pose a test for our democratic values, like the relationship between citizens and institutions, the role of mass media in providing clear and reliable information, the limits of the States’ power in the face of citizens’ private lives and initiatives, or migratory and transboundary movements.