One could argue that the first photographs known to humanity are of the streets. Whether it was Joseph Nicéphore Niépce’s View from the Window at Le Gras or Boulevard du Temple by Louis Daguerre, each image depicted the stillness or the simplicity of the then-daily life. However, with time and technological advancements, the term ‘street photography’ grew tenfold, allowing photographers to bring in their vast interpretations, each portraying multifaced layers of the human spirit, creativity, rage, zeal, and more raw emotions. To honor this intricate and diverse documentation of our changing social, political, and religious landscape, the International Center of Photography (ICP) proudly presents an extensive showcase, We Are Here: Scenes from the Streets.
The lead image is courtesy of Debrani Das and the International Center of Photography. ICP has given the permission to use all images.
The show—guest curated by Isolde Brielmaier, PhD, and Noa Wynn, Independent Curatorial Assistant—examines universal public life that underwent a significant transformation in the last half-century across varied continents. What you will see here are not only other dramatic but happy images of daily life, but also critical moments that define community spaces and highlight our resilience and shared experiences.
“We Are Here invites viewers to confront the richness and complexities of our modern, multifaceted life, emphasizing our shared humanity beyond geographic and cultural divides,” Brielmaier said of the exhibition. “Today’s world moves fleetingly, but these images prove that though circumstances might change, humanity is not going anywhere; the stories of our lives will remain.”
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In addition, the exhibit also aims to start a much-needed discourse on the importance of public spaces and how visual stories can impact our consciousness, sense of being, and social harmony. For instance, photographer Melissa O’Shaughnessy’s images are a searing portrait of individuals who make New York the heart of America. All the people she photographed (later published in a book) were “strangers” to her. However, “I fell a little in love with every one of them—if only for a fraction of a second—when I took their photographs. They’re all perfect to me,” she told us in our interview.
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Like O’Shaughnessy, the exhibition features 30 street photographers from around the world, with the earliest images dating back to the 1970s. This list includes Devin Allen (USA), Yolanda Andrade (Mexico), Shoichi Aoki (Japan), Janette Beckman (UK/USA), Sheila Pree Bright (USA), Vanessa Charlot (USA), Soufian Chemcham (Algeria), Mel D. Cole (USA), Martha Cooper (USA), Farnaz Damnabi (Iran), Debrani Das (India), Grace Ekpu (Nigeria), Lam Yik Fe (Hong Kong), Niki Gleoudi (Greece/USA), Romuald Hazoumè (Benin), Anthony Hernandez (USA), Youcef Krache (Algeria), Corky Lee (USA), Feng Li (China), Maha Maamoun (Egypt), Daidō Moriyama (Japan), James Muriuki (Kenya), O’Shaughnessy (USA), Josué Rivas (Mexico and Otomi), Joseph Rodriguez (USA), Trevor Stuurman (South Africa), Efrat Sela (Israel), Randa Shaath (Egypt), Jamel Shabazz (USA), Stephen Tayo (Nigeria), Alexey Titarenko (Russia), Nontsikelelo Veleko (South Africa), and Michael Wolf (Germany).
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Since street photography is as multifaceted as any other genre — encompassing varied, intricate themes —We Are Here offers a dialogue by splitting the show into six chapters, each depicting a holistic view of public spaces. The sections are titled On the Shoulder of Giants (An Ode to New York), Neighborhood and Community, Street Style and Self-Fashioning, Urban Landscapes, and Protest & Advocacy. Here, what you will see, dear readers, is a glimpse into the essence of urban life, ranging from intimate scenes of the neighborhood to powerful depictions of social activism. Our streets are the best example of how we introduce societal change from every sidewalk to every lane.
We Are Here: Scenes from the Streets will be displayed at ICP from September 25, 2024, to January 6, 2025. For more information, visit icp.org.