originally printed on the March 31, 2015 edition of the International New York Times
Fragility and resistance - The French-born artist Pierre Gonnord worked for more than a decade tracking down the dark sides of globalization, documenting coal miners, punks, immigrants and Gypsies - and horses, a symbol of the world’s dwindling biodiversity. He said he searched for subjects “From the ghettos, the outskirts of the city that flee from a globalized world from which they feel rejected.” After spending time with such communities, Mr. Gonnord made portraits against dark backgrounds, from the waist up, in the manner of an Old Master painting. His exhibition is on display until April 25 at Hasted Kraeutler in New York.