Francisco Uceda guides us through Redhook, a neighborhood in New York City undergoing gentrification, where people are drawn silhouettes.

ARTIST STATEMENT

In the ever-evolving cityscape of New York, where construction and deconstruction become the rhythmic pulse of existence, the series Homage to Bernardo Soares seeks explores the dynamic nature of this metropolis. As the city relentlessly reinvents itself, tearing down old structures to erect new ones, and gentrification sweeps through neglected spaces, a neighborhood emerges from the margins: Redhook. This photography series delves into the essence of this overlooked enclave, capturing the character-fragments that inhabit its streets. Through the interplay of silhouettes, shadows, and everyday scenes, I invite viewers to contemplate the profound narratives that unfold within the relentless march of progress.

Redhook, until recently, stood apart from the bustling frenzy and economic fervor that characterizes New York City. Nestled in the periphery, it harbored a sense of detachment from the city’s ambitious pursuits. In Homage to Bernardo Soares, I aim to shed light on this neighborhood’s untold stories and overlooked beauty. Within the seemingly futile struggles of daily life, I uncover fragments, remnants, and traces of people who appear to exist outside the relentless present. These character-fragments become the focal point of my visual narrative, providing glimpses into a time that resists the pressures of progress.

The character-fragments that traverse Redhook manifest as silhouettes in white or shadows in black, infused with a trace of humanity. These figures, set against the backdrop of this marginalized space, evoke a sense of both presence and absence. The blank silhouettes suggest the excision of bodies from the visual realm, while the shadows hint at a body already absent. It is through this interplay of presence and absence that I explore themes of impending disaster, the decline of civilization, and the anguish of lives left on the margins. In contemplating these photographs, viewers are invited to delve into the complex emotions and narratives that emerge from the delicate balance between existence and erasure.

Without delving explicitly into the concept of positive or negative space, the absent figures within the series serve as harbingers, foreshadowing the fragility of existence and the potential for decline. These character-fragments speak to the impending disaster that hangs in the air, the erosion of a civilization, or the quiet demise of lives consigned to the margins. As viewers immerse themselves in the photographs, they bear witness to the failure of a neighborhood or a city that was not. Through these images, I seek to shed light on the often-overlooked consequences of urban transformation and the impact it has on those on the fringes.

Within Redhook’s streets, the character-fragments embark on their own journeys of observation and introspection. They walk their dogs, read newspapers, and marvel at the ordinary occurrences that captivate the eye of the flâneur. Everyday discoveries, such as an open book lying on the sidewalk or the demolition of a familiar building, become moments of serendipity that inspire reflection. Through the lens of the camera, I capture these instances of rediscovery, inviting viewers to join the flâneur’s gaze and find beauty in the banal.

Homage to Bernardo Soares is ultimately an exploration of narrative. Through the visual language of photography, I aim to weave a tapestry of stories that resonate with viewers on a profound level.