Photography Underground

Two photographers with significantly different styles—one capturing moments in time, the other stretching time beyond moments—are featured in Lightbox exhibitions at New York City subway stations.

Early Color, the Photographs of Saul Leiter is on view at the 42nd Street-Bryant Park station and feature Leiter’s photographs from 1948 to 1960. The exhibition follows a new monograph, Saul Leiter Early Color, published by Steidl & Partners.

Leiter’s first exhibition of color photography was held in the 1950s at the Artist’s Club, a meeting place for many of the Abstract Expressionist painters of that time. The work was an early use of color in so-called street photography, those observed moments of urban life. The work has a subdued color and painterly quality that stands out among the work of his contemporaries. New Yorkers will appreciate the image of postmen on their rounds in the snow, passersby under the signage of the day, or riding by on a city bus.

Leiter’s work is in the collections of many major United States museums and collections. His work appears courtesy of the Howard Greenberg Gallery (howardgreenberg.com).

The Bowling Green station features The Essence of Time, contemporary photographs by Nicole Bengiveno.

Bengiveno is interested in capturing the mystery and magic of light and how it communicates the passage of time.

Trained as a photojournalist to realize the essence of her subject through her camera's lens, Bengiveno uses long exposure times to reveal the arcing streaks of light, whirling patterns of sunlight bouncing off a metallic surface, late afternoon’s golden glow, or illumination from streetlights and passing cars to create the appearance of painterly brushstrokes in the faces of evening commuters.

The Essence of Time explores the properties of light that surround us and transform everyday sights to the poetic. Bengiveno says she was inspired by time and space, energy, and motion for the series. Surrounded by the orange tile of the Philip Johnson-inspired station, the seven lightboxes glow with strong color and high contrast, bringing the photographer's ruminations on time and light to the hectic subway environment, showing what can be seen when one stops to look.

Both Early Color, the Photographs of Saul Leiter and The Essence of Time will be on display through Spring 2008.

Display transparencies for the Leiter exhibit were donated by Digital Plus and for the Bengiveno exhibit by Portland Color.

About the Lightbox Program

The MTA Arts for Transit Lightbox Program enlivens enliven subway passageways and the underground environment with bright, vivid photographs that showcase the work of primarily New York-based photographers.

Large-scale lightboxes (approx. 45 x 66 inches) are illuminated from within and the images are printed on duratrans film by local providers who donate their services.

Lightbox exhibitions are located at four sites: Grand Central Terminal Dining Pavilion (, Metro-North), 42nd Street Bryant Park (), Bowling Green () and Atlantic Avenue (, LIRR). Exhibitions rotate approximately every 12-16 months.