An outsider’s view on the American dream
- Text by Miss Rosen
- Photography by PierLuigi Macor
Swiss photographer PierLuigi Macor travelled to the United States in 2011 with an image in mind – one that came from consuming photographs and movies ever since he was a teenager. Attracted to the countryside and rural landscapes, Macor spent five years traversing Montana, Texas, Colorado, Louisiana, and Michigan to create Bowie, Texas, a lavish monograph just released by Edition Patrick Frey.
Macor had only one aim in mind: to create photographs that would capture the beautiful sadness of America. “My inspiration was more the journey as a whole to find things and images I haven’t seen before,” he explains. “As an outsider, it’s easier for me to recognise the beauty of the ordinary things that seem too obvious for Americans but to me are special.”
Acknowledging that he was “not so much [exploring] the specific places where I ended up,” Macor’s lack of connection to the local landscape he sought to capture worked for him – and against him, as well. “I always notice a lot of scepticism and suspicion when I arrive at a place or try to get in touch with people,” he says.
There were times that the instinct to doubt turned into trust, such as when Macor met a fellow photographer on his way to a baseball game with his son, who spontaneously invited him to join them for a meal at a diner. Other times, distrust loomed large, as sheriffs and locals were quick to pull a weapon on Macor. The photographer discovered firsthand what many Americans already know: outsiders and foreigners are not welcome everywhere in the land of the free.
“I felt the presence of guns and the freedom they convey – but also the fear,” Macor remembers. “Near Buffalo, New York, a security guard pointed his gun at me and called the police – when I only wanted to take a picture near a factory.”
Despite the challenges, Macor persevered. He was captivated by the people that he encountered who came from all different walks of life. “Something about their faces would catch my attention and tell me a story without any words. Because my English is not perfect, there was a language barrier. Most of the time, I was able to overcome it and have beautiful encounters with people,” Macor reveals.
“Someone would cook for me. Another would give me a photograph in return. When people opened up, they would give a lot very quickly – and it’s these little things I take with me. I am still amazed by the beauty and diversity of the country. It still feels like there is so much more to see and to discover. I could just go on and on and travel and take pictures. To me, there is a sad beauty about everything.”
PierLuigi Macor’s Bowie, Texas is available now from Edition Patrick Frey.
Follow Miss Rosen on Twitter.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
On the set of ‘La Bamba’, lost Latino legend Ritchie Valens’s biopic
The overnight rockstar — The Chicano rock & roll star exploded overnight in the late ’50s, but just as quickly he was gone, killed in a plane crash along with Buddy Holly. An ’80s biopic saw him immortalised on the big screen, which photographer Merrick Morton captured behind the scenes.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Louis Theroux’s ‘Manosphere’ shows men aren’t the problem, platforms are
No Ws for Good Men — The journalist’s new documentary sees him dive headfirst into the toxicities and machinations of the male influencer economy. But when young creators are monetarily incentivised to make more and more outrageous content, who really is to blame?
Written by: Emma Garland
In the 1960s, African photographers recaptured their own image
Ideas of Africa — An exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art explores the 20th century’s most important lensers, including Seydou Keïta, Malick Sidibé and Kwame Brathwaite, and their impact on challenging dominant European narratives.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Reynaldo Rivera’s intimate portrait of queer Latino love
Propiedad Privada — Growing up during the AIDS pandemic, the photographer entered a world where his love was not only taboo, but dangerous. His new monograph presents inward-looking shots made over four decades, which reclaim the power of desire.
Written by: Miss Rosen
In photos: The newsagents keeping print alive
Save the stands — With Huck 83 hitting shelves around the world, we met a few people who continue to stock print magazines, defying an enduringly tough climate for physical media and the high street.
Written by: Ella Glossop
Inside Bombay Beach, California’s ‘Rotting Riviera’
Man-made decay — The Salton Sea was created by accident after a failed attempt to divert the Colorado River in the early 20th century. Jack Burke reports from its post-apocalyptic shores, where DIY art and ecological collapse meet.
Written by: Jack Burke
