Kike Arnal: In the Shadow of Power

by Kike Arnal (Artist), Ralph Nader (Introduction), Fred Ritchin (Foreword)

"In the Shadow of Power" is a shocking visual expose of the harsh social and economic realities in the capital city of the richest nation on earth. Washington, D.C., is much more than its tourist destinations, and Venezuelan-born photographer Kike Arnal's book describes a search for that other city: a city that, incredibly, has the nation's highest infant mortality, teenage pregnancy and AIDS infection rates, and where 16 percent of local children live in extreme poverty. "With a population of roughly 570,000 people, the District of Columbia is, by world standards, a small city," Arnal writes. "Its manageable size would seem to indicate that Washington could fulfill expectations naturally associated with a city of its global stature, to take care of its people. The disparity that I saw compelled me to spend the next few years documenting Washington, D.C., in order to draw attention to the realities of the city." Arnal first visited Washington in 2002 while on an assignment, and was stunned by the poverty he encountered ("I was reminded of the marginal barrios back in my home country,"he recalls); here he brings to light the lives behind these grim statistics.

Genres: Photography

143 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2010

Reviews

[Elizabeth Humphreys]

As a photographer there were some photos that really stood out to me, the very first photo, but also the spread on page 58 and 59. Also the photo on page 72 with the man getting arrested but the sign in the background says “ you’re preapproved for a pleasant experience” the juxtaposition of that was so good. As always, there is the ethicality and exploitation factors that have to be considered with any documentary photographer who is photographing poverty or homelessness from a more privileged standpoint. It is something that anyone behind a camera has to consider and something that I am assuming and hoping Arnal spent time pondering. I appreciated that appendix at the back of the book as it gave more context to the images

[Digi M]

A series of photographs taken in Washington DC. The subject matter is quite dark and brutal, often the homeless, or drug addicts, jailers or gang members. He is a great photographer, the framing is good and the pictures move you.

[Marina]

Images

[Matteo]

there isn't very much to read: these are photos of Washington DC that shine a spotlight on the soul of this country