Figure 3 Bruce Davidson Subway, 1980-1981 dye imbibition print
Figure 4 Philip-Lorca diCorcia Head #23, 2001 chromogenic print
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humanity squeezed so tightly into cars that in figure 3, for example, it is impossible to determine which arms belong to whom and whether two people are traveling together or are strangers accidentally thrown into an embrace. The use of dye imbibition film produces saturated colors that are intensified by flashes from a strobe light. In contrast to the other artists in the exhibition, Davidson often asked permission of his subjects to take their pitures. The scale and drama increase with Philip-Lorca DiCorcia’s “Heads” (2001). DiCorcia created elaborate set-ups in Times Square, with a pre-focused camera mounted in place using a telephoto lens, fast-speed film and synchronized electronic flash. As people walked onto the pre-set mark on the sidewalk, the photographer activated the shutter while sitting out of sight and watching the parade. From a vast body of work that includes thousands of photographs of heads and faces, DiCorcia selected only 17 images for this series. The detail visible in the nearlylife-size Head #23 (figure 4) is startling. The personal attributes of this young woman—from her moles to her shiny hair to the braided strap on her shoulder bag to her introspective expression—produce the uncomfortable feeling of invading her privacy. The exhibition reaches a crescendo with Swiss artist Beat Streuli’s 32-minute video finale Manhattan 09-09 (2010)