METAL & CONCRETE
2022
2022
A Photographic journey under NYC
A photobook that explores the state of mind evoked by the contrasts of life beneath New York City.An attempt to embrace discomfort and reveal the deep divides, or chasms, in our collective human experience, highlighting the gaps between wealth and poverty, visibility and invisibility, while inviting the viewer into an unspoken connection between subject, artist, and audience.
Context:
Metal and Concrete was born from a deep repulsion toward New York City's relentless "rat race." The subway became my metaphor—humans scurrying underground, chasing speed and success, disconnected from their essence. Commuting daily felt like descending into a lifeless abyss, where my body mirrored the discomfort: blurred vision, ringing ears. Yet, instead of fleeing, I confronted it, turning the underground into a canvas.
This project explores my fears and frustrations, capturing the emotional toll of a city that often feels profoundly unhuman. Through photography and mixed media—gold leaf, overprints, paint, and wax—I sought to reveal stark contrasts: presence and absence, wealth and poverty, life and death. LowRez is not just a documentation of the subway but a reflection of my state of mind—an invitation to connect with the invisible, the forgotten, and ourselves.
Caught between worlds—above and below, human and rat, visible and unseen—I challenge you to reflect on the price we pay to exist in "the greatest city on earth."
Metal and Concrete was born from a deep repulsion toward New York City's relentless "rat race." The subway became my metaphor—humans scurrying underground, chasing speed and success, disconnected from their essence. Commuting daily felt like descending into a lifeless abyss, where my body mirrored the discomfort: blurred vision, ringing ears. Yet, instead of fleeing, I confronted it, turning the underground into a canvas.
This project explores my fears and frustrations, capturing the emotional toll of a city that often feels profoundly unhuman. Through photography and mixed media—gold leaf, overprints, paint, and wax—I sought to reveal stark contrasts: presence and absence, wealth and poverty, life and death. LowRez is not just a documentation of the subway but a reflection of my state of mind—an invitation to connect with the invisible, the forgotten, and ourselves.
Caught between worlds—above and below, human and rat, visible and unseen—I challenge you to reflect on the price we pay to exist in "the greatest city on earth."
To purchase Metal & Concrete Book, contact Contact : pietro.sella@hotmail.com