This fall, the International Center of Photography (ICP) is celebrating the global art of street photography with We Are Here: Scenes from the Streets. The exhibition offers an in-depth exploration of 50 years of contemporary public life documented through the lens of over 30 street photographers from around the world, beginning in the 1970s. Guest curated by Isolde Brielmaier, PhD, with Noa Wynn, Independent Curatorial Assistant, We Are Here opens at ICP on September 25, 2024 and runs through January 6, 2025.
“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.”
Featuring works by photographers from Algeria, China, Egypt, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, the USA, and beyond, We Are Here reframes our understanding of “the street” and the activities and exchanges that occur in diverse public and community spaces. In a world fraught with misunderstanding and societal tension, the exhibition highlights street photography’s unique viewpoints on local culture and unfolding events. Documenting both dramatic and everyday moments — from street style to protests — the works in We Are Here testify to the resilience and similarities of the human experience.
“Street photographers often navigate the complexities of power dynamics and privilege,”
Elisabeth Sherman, ICP Senior Curator and Director of Exhibitions and Collections said.
“We hope this exhibition sparks reflection and conversation about the historical and current dynamics of public spaces that are shaped and mediated by gender, race, and socio-economic status, and how we critically understand the ways they govern our lives.”
We Are Here, while not exhaustive, is expansive, highlighting many fresh and previously underrepresented voices in street photography as a genre, art, and photographic discipline.
The exhibition situates each work in dialogue with one another, addressing universal themes such as neighborhood and community, urban landscapes, fashion and self-presentation, and protest and advocacy. Together, these topics offer a framework for engaging with the changing social realities of public spaces around the world.
Imagery Credits:
Janette Beckman, Jean and Chris, East Village, New York City, 1995. © Janette Beckman
Shoichi Aoki, from the series FRUiTS, 1998. Courtesy Shoichi Aoki
Corky Lee, Chinatown Community Young Lions performing at the Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown, New York, 1996. © Corky Lee/Corky Lee Estate
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