October 2007
Going Places: A Series on the Travels of Artists, Objects, and Tastes between Asia and the West
This photograph is part of a project entitled, Migrations, Salgado’s work over a seven year period in 47 countries focusing on movements of displaced people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Through this series of powerful black-and-white photographs, Salgado wished to call attention to the effects of globalization and those people living in different regions of the world who are forced out of their homes as a result of war, repression, or poverty. Each photograph in the project is accompanied by Salgado’s observations: “Church gate is the terminus station of the Western Railroad Line, which brings 2.7 million commuters into Bombay [Mumbai] every day. It is not a large station, but at rush hour trains seem to arrive every twenty seconds. Built [under British rule] by the British, India’s railroad system covers much of the country. But now, even with the addition of numerous commuter lines, such is population growth here that the trains are always dangerously overcrowded.” (From the book, Migrations, 2000) Overlooking the station, Salgado depicts the frenzy of the commuters—whose movements appear like individually painted brushstrokes in this photograph—except for a motionless figure with a suitcase at the lower left corner. Originally trained as an economist, Salgado began to take photographs at the age of 29. Like Henri Cartier-Bresson, he also uses the small, portable Leica camera, often with 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 60mm lenses.
Last Updated: 6/14/2011