As Dave Krugman traverses the streets of New York City, camera in hand, he seeks patterns. Throughout his wide-ranging practice spanning portraits, automobiles, tourism, and more, he studies “humanity’s intersection with cities and how people are influenced by their immediate environment,” says a statement. Whether in the countryside or the middle of an urban hub, rhythms and typologies emerge.
The Brooklyn-based photographer began documenting windows throughout New York City several years ago, and his aptly named series compiles a cross-section of his captures over the past half decade. Taken at night, these virtually infinite portals into individual lives are illuminated from within. Krugman focuses only on the light, shadow, and things placed just inside, such as cat beds, curtains, and holiday decorations that anyone can see as they pass by on the street. Each window on its own is a curiosity; arranged in a grid, they comprise a medley and a kind of portrait of the city.
“New York, despite being so densely populated, can often be a lonely place,” Krugman says. “By documenting the individuality and variation of these windows, and then sequencing them into randomized grids, we’re able to recreate the sense of belonging and sonder that one feels while wandering the storied streets of this beautiful metropolis.”
Leaning into the concept of “sonder,” which is an awareness of the immense complexity of others’ lives in addition to our own, the artist nudges our recognition of the unique experiences of the people behind these windows. “To me, WINDOWS is a reflection about how our similarities to each other overpower our differences, and how our isolation is ultimately overwhelmed by our sense of community and togetherness,” he says.
The search for patterns continues to inspire Krugman on wanderings throughout New York City. He likens the experience to foraging or collecting seashells on the coast. “That excitement and surprise of the variance and ‘success’ of finding a ‘good one’ is rooted in our deepest evolutionary instincts,” he says. “Layering that tendency over the built world, which often feels more foreign and unnatural, helps to remind me that we are still an extension of that natural world—still a part of it—even if this particular forest is one of steel, stone, and glass.”
Krugman is currently organizing a project to be released in two phases, including a digital art sale with Transient Labs and a physical print sale. Updates will be released via his newsletter. Krugman is also the founder of ALLSHIPS, which he describes as “a culture company” for artists. See more on his Instagram.
