Parallel Horizons: An International Photography Collective Exhibition in Chelsea
Mandana Mahdavi
Written by Oman Morí
Copy edited by Melis Ozdemir
The contemporary photography landscape is showcased in Chelsea with a collective exhibition of nine international photographers who reside in New York. Parallel Horizons explores a wide range of themes, from displacement and identity to our relationship with nature and the potential futures of humanity. Through various forms of visual storytelling, it encourages us to reflect on our collective future and the meaning of being human in an ever-changing world. Running until October 4th, this exhibition is a focal point for building community around international photography and contemporary artistic approaches.
Maria Giovanna Giugliano
Curated by Cameron Judith Peters, Parallel Horizons celebrates the remarkable diversity of visual storytelling techniques, ranging from the stark realism of documentary photography to the innovative and experimental practices that ignite the imagination. Peters captures the distinct backgrounds and creative journeys of nine artists.
Carlos de la Sancha
Manuela Lourenço
The curator explains, “Parallel Horizons features a collective of nine international artists navigating landscapes of transformation. For each artist, the move to New York became a journey inward, fuelling deeply personal work.” These artists initially came to New York as part of the one-year program at the International Center of Photography in the Lower East Side. Their creative expressions were forged in the city's energy, together with its difficulties and opportunities. Peters adds, “By bringing these projects into conversation, we witness displacement and dreams alongside alternative ways of living and being in the body. The collective describes this process of viewing and interpreting co-existing realities as ‘feeling the world in parallel.’”
Marco Serventi
Among the exhibiting artists are Maria Sarafi, who imagines a world without humans with abstract and psychedelic landscapes, and Carlos de la Sancha, who explores the sense of belonging in a monochromatic self-exploratory journey. Brazilian Manuela Lourenço, with his evocative and performative self-portraits, and Rishika Nath from India, whose body landscapes collages provide a unique perspective on the human form.
Maria Sarafi
Marilia Gurgel
The curatorial text states, “Through art we have the opportunity to experience an alternate reality. A reality that may be so entirely different from our own, or so intimately familiar, that it offers a new way of seeing ourselves and the world around us.” This sentiment is brought to life through the organic and visceral abstractions of Italian artist Maria Giugliano, the surreal documentary explorations of Swiss photographer Marco Serventi, and the personal exploration of struggles and inclusivity by Brazilian artist Marilia Gurgel. The emotional exploration of motherhood by British artist Matilda Hay and British-Iranian artist Mandana Mahdavi’s exploration of trauma caused by incarceration further enriches the diverse tapestry of perspectives on display.
Matilda Hay
Parallel Horizons is currently being showcased at Chashama (320 W 23rd St NYC), a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming underutilized spaces into hubs for artistic expression and exhibitions. More information can be found on the collective’s website: www.parallelhorizonscollective.com
Rishika Nath
