The subway is more than just a transportation system; it is a living, breathing entity that reflects the city’s multifaceted character. It is a place where anonymity meets intimacy, where strangers share fleeting moments that can be both mundane and extraordinary.
Below the streets of NYC lies a hidden realm connected with daily life above.
The Subway crossed by billions annually, tell us countless unique stories.
Through my photos I want to show this life underground. This world beneath the surface, enigmatic, dark and sometimes with a twist of humor.
The trains are at the same time protagonists and witnesses of this life.
Pilar Vergara
I started learning photography when I began my career in journalism in my home country of Chile. I worked as a photojournalist for a human rights organization and for several news agencies, documenting protests and conflicts in Chile under the Pinochet regime.
After moving to Washington, DC, I worked for major newspapers as well as on personal projects. One of these projects resulted in a book titled “Female”, which is a documentary series of transgender women that aimed to tell their stories and portray them as everyday individuals who are part of society.
I later moved to New York City, where I live now. Of all the places I’ve called home, it is the city that inspires me the most; its rambunctious energy and enormous variety of people and cultures inspire me at every turn. Right now, I am working on “Life Underground”, a project on the New York subway combining my love for trains and people. I became passionate about the subway because of how it contrasts with daily life above ground. It is a network used by billions every year, full of countless unique stories.
I am also working on “Life Above Ground”, photographing New Yorkers in different neighborhoods of the city.
I photograph in black and white. This choice aims to capture the essence of the moment without the distraction of clothing colors or background details. Through the individuals I photograph, I intend to depict this world both below and above the surface: enigmatic, dark, and occasionally humorous.
www.pilarvergara.com
@pilarphotonyc
