Manhattan Visions

[Manhattan, october 2001] The atmosphere is heavy, sad and oppressive. The images run on non-stop. My eyes rediscover Manhattan. The city's has changed. The buildings, the cars hoods, the clothes all display the American flag. The newspapers' front pages behind the stores' windows. The towers' pictures sell quickly. The portraits of those who have disappeared cover each metro station and each street. I quickly walk pass the hole which is so fascinating. I don't want to mix with the crowd of curious people which come daily in quiet, disciplined groups.

I have no choice but to refuse this type of image. What needed to be done has been done. More of the same would be of no use. I would later feel uncomfortable and once the event was past I would be disgusted with myself for having shown such a voyeuristic attraction.

I walk up and down Broadway, follow the limits of Lower East Side, wander around Little Italy and Times Square before going through China Town and walking up Canal Street. I cross ordinary, tired, lost, solitary, distracted, heavy and challenging eyes. I hear stories told in different tongues.

I think about what pictures I should take while I wander around the city. A strong and invasive emotion surrounds me. I don't want to give in. Each person I meet brings up an image, a face, an expression, an attitude, a social class, a particularity, a unique story. All these stories put together are those of a city, complex and alive. The smiles create a painful but silent complicity. Those words serve no purpose. Respect each person's privacy. See things differently. Just photograph the faces and capture the memory. [Paris, february 2002]

visit the virtual gallery