Mathew Pokoik (NY)
The Global City
Space Preference: Dedicated Exhibition Space

Artist Statement
This project proposal, “The Global City,” explores the theme of “Transformations” through a photographic investigation of globalism as seen in the quickly changing 21st century city. It explores how the built environment is acting as a catalyst and a mirror of massive cultural transformation in major cities throughout the world. Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jerusalem, Las  Vegas, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rio, Rome, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, Seoul, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo.

I am curious about the possibilities that photographs present as both a visual experience and as a historical document simultaneously. A photograph is a historical document, in that it speaks of a specific place in time and space, a singular fixed point-of-view. A photograph is also a presentation of visual relationships, an exploration of line, placement, light and color, a celebration of the myriad possibilities of visual form.

This project creates historical documents that present themselves as living experiences through a rigorous re-structuring of their visual content. What I find most interesting about photography is what is possible within a set of very limited parameters. These parameters are many of the same working tools that photographers for generations have been using. Yet, new ways of utilizing these tools continue to evolve in the craft of straight photography, and I find this amazing and revealing. The challenge is to see with an unconditioned eye, in doing so breaking down common visual habits of seeing using the limited parameters of a rectangular frame.

All work in this project is “straight” color photographs from 6x7 cm film printed as digital c-prints. Sizes may vary depending on the installation space; in general they are sized at 30”x24”.

Captions

1. Mathew Pokoik, Times Square, New York City, 2003, digital C-Print, 30”x24”
2. Mathew Pokoik, Shinjuku Station, Tokyo, 2005, digital C-Print, 30”x24”
3. Mathew Pokoik, Intersection of the Bund and Nanjing Lu, Shanghai, 2005, digital C-Print, 30”x24”
4. Mathew Pokoik, The Strip, Las Vegas, 2006, digital C-Print, 30”x24”
5. Mathew Pokoik, Dubai, 2007, digital C-Print, 30”x24”
6. Mathew Pokoik, Dubai, 2007, digital C-Print, 30”x24”
7. Mathew Pokoik, NASDAQ Studio at Times Square, New York City, 2004, digital C-Print, 30”x24”
8. Mathew Pokoik, Hong Kong, 2005, digital C-Print, 30”x24”
9. Mathew Pokoik, Tel Aviv, 2007, digital C-Print, 30”x24”
10. Mathew Pokoik, Amsterdam, 2005, digital C-Print, 30”x24”