URBAN EARTH: MEXICO CITY
I FELT PHYSICALLY SICK WITH FEAR AS WE WALKED. Daniel Raven-Ellison
In 2008, the world reaches an invisible but momentous milestone. For the first time in history, more than half its human population, 3.3 billion people, will be living in urban areas. But does anyone, anywhere, really understand the truth of these cities?
Take Mexico City, London and Mumbai, 3 of the world’s gigantic megatropoli. They spread and sprawl at an incredible rate, each one a rich cross-section of culture, wealth, deprivation, death and vitality. Yet most of the inhabitants only know a tiny fraction of the city they call home.
In a treacherous and unique new project, Urban Earth, Daniel Raven-Ellison seeks a true image of these cities. Walking from one side of each to the other in a straight line, and armed only with a camera, he takes a photograph of what he sees in front of him every 5 metres. The camera remains fixed straight ahead. Why? Because he wants to capture an objective and unbiased image of the city - a portrait of urban life. This week, Dan completed his epic crossing of Mexico City. What follows is an excerpt from the blog he kept at night:
“This is one of the poorest parts of the city and it was clearest in its public spaces. Many are islands between fast roads that smelt of the decay of flesh or the flow of sewage. At one point, Etienne decided to use a vantage point in a play park to take a photograph only to suffer a series of harsh electric shocks as he and the metal slide that he was standing on became charged by the power-lines directly above. While the wealthier parts of the city enjoy small but green spaces for recreation, children's places for play are squeezed into inappropriate, dangerous spaces.”
Next up for Dan - London. Hopefully the blisters will have healed by the 10th of August. I can’t wait to see the photos. The images from all 3 cities will be available to view individually, but Dan’s journey will be brought to life in stunning style when he releases the films - digital flick-books of every single photo, back to back. Keep track of Dan’s progress here and look out for him in Issue 2 of Susology Magazine - the Explore issue.
