Title: Brooklyn
Photographer/s: Luke Swenson
Date of publication: June, 2011
Place of publication: London, UK
Dimensions: 5.8 x 8.2 in
Edition size: 100
Type of binding: Saddle-Stitch, Softcover
Number of pages: 32
Type of paper: Off-white recycled uncoated
Number of pictures: 32
Type of printing: Digital
Publisher: The Velvet Cell Books
Designer: Eanna Freeney
Editor: Eanna Freeney
Language: English
Category: Artist Books
Price: £7
Summary: “These massive brick towers that you see in my photographs are mostly all low income housing co-operatives. Since I first visited here I was drawn to these monolithic buildings that dominated the skyline. It was only later when I moved here and started learning of their social impact and history that I became interested in them as a major photographic subject. The way they fit thousands of working class families into such uniform and ridged forms allowed me to play with space, perspective and light in a much stronger way.
“But the interest went much deeper than this. A large section of modern music and pop culture today characterize these areas as being dangerous, criminal filled places, yet my experience was much different. I saw thousands of windows, filled with thousands of working day Americans simply trying to make a life for themselves. I felt that by going into these areas and documenting them, I was breaking a type of social taboo. Photographing these places meant that I could transcend their realities to shed a light upon them.
“I aim not to disregard nor disrespect their pasts, but simply to relate the experience of being in their presence. I Illuminate places of violence and age, showing them in stillness and in moments of personal reflection. By going into these areas and documenting them I felt as though I was releasing myself from their fearful intimidation.” Luke Swenson
Date and place of birth of photographer/s: USA
Website: www.thevelvetcell.com
Book link: www.thevelvetcell.com/swensonbook.html
Donated by: The Velvet Cell Books
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