Richard Sharum's three-year journey across America's 'spine' captures the overlooked lives of the working class, challenging the notion of 'flyover country' and emphasizing shared humanity through his bold black and white photography. His work highlights the beauty and dignity of lives that have often been marginalized politically and culturally.
In his book, Spina Americana, Sharum portrays the working class with reverence, aiming to connect the audience to each person in his photographs. He states, 'I needed to travel its central corridor and see it for myself,' reflecting a commitment to understanding America's diverse landscape and its people through personal engagement.
Sharum articulates the condescension associated with the term 'flyover country,' noting, 'This part of our country had been ignored politically, socially, and culturally for decades.' He aims to fill this 'subtle but consequential vacuum' with a meaningful representation of the individuals who inhabit this region.
His photographs serve as a poignant reminder of the shared humanity among individuals from diverse backgrounds. By focusing on the material conditions and expressions of his subjects, Sharum not only tells their stories but invites viewers to empathize with their experiences and realities.
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