LOBBY – Between Green Deals and Ideals

A photographic project by Suzanne Schols, once a lobbyist herself and now a photographer, with which she offers a look behind the scenes of the Brussels lobby world. She aimed her camera specifically at the climate lobby and knocked on the door of 122 organizations that are trying to influence the European Green Deal for which Frans Timmermans was responsible as European Commissioner in recent years. Schols systematically photographed the reception areas – the so-called lobby – of the Brussels offices.

The lobby

Lobby originally comes from the word 'lobia' which means corridor, porch or hall and in a political sense originally referred to the space in the British House of Commons where the public could discuss with MPs. US President Ulysses S. Grant popularized the word. As he enjoyed his cigar and brandy in the lobby of the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC, he was often surrounded by people trying to influence his politics. He called them 'lobbyists'.

Nowadays, lobbying is mainly seen as something that takes place behind closed doors and remains hidden from the public.

Project

With the aim of increasing the visibility and transparency of lobbying practices, Schols traveled many times to the European capital to photograph the reception areas - the so-called lobby - of organizations that are involved in shaping the policy of the Green Deal . An image that is confirmed by the fact that it was not always easy for Schols to get permission to take photographs in the Brussels offices of the lobby organizations.