Hira Hassan: Photographer, Artist, and Activist.
As a Bronx native, I never had the opportunity to learn about the Bronx’s history till I started college at Fordham University. For me, studying history enabled me to recognize the resilience, community, and culture that continues to exist despite the constant threats faced by the borough. As I began to see my environment in a new and stunning light, I also began to see it shifting as many low income neighborhoods face gentrification.
“My work is an attempt to capture the beauty around me the way it is, and the way I see it. It is about capturing and documenting moments, people, interactions, and places in the Bronx in an unmediated manner. As the greenest borough, I enjoy shooting the way nature (particularly flowers and trees) naturally harmonizes with its city surroundings. The Bronx is also a very colorful place and I try to highlight the colors I see as well as the beauty in the lights/shadows through my black and white shots.”
“Street photography has provided me with an opportunity to catch and showcase the Bronx as it slowly changes and faces gentrification. There are very few people dedicated to shooting the Bronx and through my own capability, I am recording history. I hope this work allows people to see this borough in a new light as I have”
One People. One Bronx.
Follow Hira’s Instagram here.