Above (2022)
Artist Statement: My passion for street photography is rooted in the narratives, portraits, and complex compositions of everyday life. I felt that my work is overly influenced by existing concepts and artists. I want to craft original compositions. With this mission, I moved to a new point of view. The Above series consists of images taken from a second-story balcony overlooking a Manhattan sidewalk. While being at eye-level with the subject matter created amazing work in the past, this unique location elevates the imagery to a higher level. During the shoot, I enter a meditative state of acute awareness, patience, and creativity. Each photograph is printed six by eight inches into five by three grids. The photos range in the number of people in the frame. Whether stacked or laid out in a line, the versatility of the display maintains the pattern and holds rhythmic qualities. This consistency and bird’s eye view suggests a celestial omnipresence that gives power to the viewer. With a conflicting feeling of curiosity, the series presents an intriguing peek into the common New Yorker’s walk down the street. As I continue to experiment, I find a similar playfulness in photographing a curb, an underpass, and window reflections.
