THE CORNERS PROJECT/PRESS RELEASE
Manhattan is not an concrete jungle. It is a human zoo where the only common denominator is the certitude that here, on this small island, lie greater possibilities than anywhere else.

The Project:
In the summer of 2007 I started to take candid shots of my neighbors and passers-by
on the corner of Clinton + Rivington. Soon, this obsession with corners grew: hungry to capture how the most divergent of dreams and priorities meet everyday at these urban crossroads, I shot thousands of total strangers over the course of three years in this and 4 other distinct corners: in Wall street, Chinatown, Chelsea and East Harlem.
Often presented in pairs, these portraits celebrate the unsuspected beauty that surrounds us everyday, capturing a taste of the unique universe that each corner constitutes.
But, Who are these people? Where did they come from? What is on their minds? What is their story?
Interestingly, as we try to answer such questions, the images gain another level: our pre-conceived notions emerge and our own personal life experiences are revealed.

Background:
In 2009, the project was introduced to the public through TheCornersProject.com and a
Facebook Fan Page.
All Day Buffet picked on it and chose it one of 100 ”most innovative, rule-breaking, modelchanging ideas to come out of the Big Apple” quickly catching the attention of influential bloggers from Istanbul to Paris. This lead to the first edition of the book in early 2010: a week later it was distinguished by the publisher’s employees as “Staff Pick”.

The Show:
Join us on May 18 at 8pm for the official launch of THE HUMAN ZOO, The Corners Project first book, presented by RAWNYC at 186 Orchard street.
On display will be 40 of some of The Project's most acclaimed images printed on limited edition 20x30" and 8x12" plexi, as well as the work of The Street is in the House, a twin project by Carlo Sampietro that explores the common theme of extraordinary beauty hidden behind the everyday in the streets of NYC.
The show runs from May 14th throughout the 23rd, admission is free. For updates on this and other events throughout the week and the launch party, RSVP at the contact info provided below.

Friko:
An advertising brand strategist by day, I worked on global strategies for brands like American Express, Puma, Intel and Chivas Regal among others.
Before moving to NY in 2000 I taught English in a Tibetan monastery, owned a small beach restaurant in Goa, started a beach baseball league in Brazil, taught windsurfing in Aruba and named a couple of Unilever products in Europe.
The son of an Argentine fighter pilot and a Congolese Belgian, I spent my formative
years in Argentina, Russia, Brazil, Belgium, Italy and India.