New York Dream By Xavier Dumoulin

A creative way to explore the power of an iconic city.

After capturing landscapes in abstract images that subtly highlighted the impact of man on nature, French photographer Xavier Dumoulin travels to a metropolis to create another thought-provoking series. “New York Dream” displays the city in a new light, referencing the idealistic view of the city everyone loves. Remaining somewhere in limbo, between the ‘real’ world and an immersive nature of a dream, the photographer removes meaning from the instantly recognizable urban setting in order to find the essence of New York. And in the process, to remind of the pure view of the metropolis that became a symbol of America. Through a voluntary movement, the Dumoulin enhances the vertical lines of the architecture and alters visual perception in this creative landscape photography series. As a result, the viewer enters the dream-like state of New York City.

The series evolves from the first image to the last; the former features a subtler effect, while the latter becomes an abstract painting of line and color. A place with a different meaning for each viewer. Admiring this aesthetic illusion, an architecture photographer sees the blur as well as the colors; a nature lover sees the urban environment. The city with many faces for different people appears translated into a surreal setting that is simply magical. Ultimately, the creative landscape photography series aims to explore and highlight the ambivalence between the romanticized idea of New York and its reality. Stepping inside this New York dream, Dumoulin brings that sense of wonder back to life, offering a place for reflection. Photographs© Xavier Dumoulin.