10% of Detroit’s people risk losing their homes this year, but the art and photography we see of urban decay do not tell their story
On the surface, Detroit can be summed up in one image: an abandoned and gutted home. Detroit is one of the most photographed cities in the world and the general narrative is of ruin, abandonment and decay.
Such shocking photographs amount to “ruin porn” and only serve to obscure the humanity and the complexity behind the city’s long struggle and reduce Detroit to its ruins.
We believe that Detroit’s experiences with capitalism, racism and political fragmentation make it an important place to study and understand. Art can play a role in this. But the challenge for those who have an interest in Detroit is to turn curiosity into something which contributes to both the people of the city and a sophisticated understanding of its history and challenges.
A recent art project by Berlin and Naples-based artist Ryan Mendoza contributes to this simplistic story of the city. With the help of crowdfunding, Mendoza has purchased an empty Detroit house, shipped it across the Atlantic and reassembled it as part of the Rotterdam Art Fair. It will eventually find a permanent home at the Verbeke Foundation in Belgium. With such visually powerful images, the message is clear: Detroit is an empty city.
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