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July 27, 2010
Camilo José Vergara is known for his photographic representation of American slums and decaying urban environments. He often does this through rephotography--- photographing the same buildings and neighborhoods from the exact vantage point at regular intervals over many years to capture changes over time.
Camilo José Vergara, gas pumps, South Broadway at Lester Terrace, Camden, N.J., 2007.
This work stands in marked contrast to the images of urban renewal commissioned by city boosters and c developers: gleaming office towers, lively streets bordered by cafes, of housing whose residents can gaze out on landscapes, sailboats nestled in downtown marinas, and couples and families strolling along riverfront parks. The focus is on waterfront, entertainment, middle class housing.
Camilo José Vergara, 200 Second Street, Camden, N.J., 2004.
His concern is the disinvestment and physical decay of a city in decline that triggers the need for reinvestment and urban renewal; images of decline and the effects of decay and abandonment.
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