In the 1980s the Subway in New York was poorly run, poorly lit and considered dangerous. Photographer Bruce Davidson decided to head underground to embark on what he called ‘a voyage of discovery’. In Davidson’s own words, ‘I wanted to transform the subway from its dark, degrading, and impersonal reality into images that open up our experience again to the colour, sensuality, and vitality of the individual souls that ride it each day.’ With its striking portraits ranging from gang members to a blind man, Subway is considered one of the finest photography projects ever completed. From his home in New York, Davidson talked to TateShots about the series.
Work by Bruce Davidson will be included in the upcoming show Another London at Tate Britain
