An Unsuspected Photography Project
As part of generating a dataset for training an image classification network during the 'Designing with AI' seminar, we were asked to document places around the neighborhood of Poblenou. Although starting out as a simple data gathering exercise, if quickly evolved into an intriguing exploration of the area, which is marked by rapid changes. Shooting photos quickly, often from the hip, and without much attention given to framing this photo series shows details of the neighborhood as if observed by a casual passerby. Originally an industrial area with many factory buildings, Poblenou is aspiring to becoming a thriving startup ecosystem. This marks a transformative moment for the neighborhood, as old industrial heritage and new digital economy clash. New hunks of glass and steel are erected with building sites dotting the streets. Many other buildings bear still the facade of an old factory, but are renovated to accommodate the new class of digital elite.s The social struggle that comes with this radical change is not invisible but ever so explicit. This photo series is an attempt to journal while paying homage to the rough charm that the neighborhood still exhibits.
