The motivation for UNDERGROUND came with a renewed reliance on public transit: while on sabbatical in London, UK and travelling in Europe I used underground transit extensively to commute in each city.  The return to a subterranean world brought back memories of my own history with this method of transportation; travel to school, university and work, along with personal and social outings. UNDERGROUND explores the merger of action and the memory of action by having transit riders as both the audience and the subject while they are themselves commuting.    

I chose to use a Horizon panoramic camera (made by LOMO) as the format lent itself perfectly to the shape of underground rail cars, the platforms and the passageways of the stations.  Long exposures create movement, revealing the fluidity of the subways as they are continually transformed by the coming and going of both trains and passengers.  Use of B&W film lends an eerie quality to the images, highlighting the isolation of each space all of which emphasizes the loneliness of the communal experience.

Signed prints of the images in this exhibition are available for sale – please contact Hannah for details.

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