“Beneath the glamour of Hollywood lies Skid Row, an area that contains more homeless people than any other in the US.” – Article by Ruby Cruden.
A touching interview with photographer Désirée van Hoek published on i-d.vice.com reveals the other side of glamourous LA. “Because whilst LA might call to mind the glitter and glamour of Hollywood, the city is also home to some of America’s most deprived communities. This is most famously encapsulated in Skid Row, in Downtown LA, an area that contains up to 6,000 homeless people by some estimates, and where 40 percent of the population live below the poverty line.”
The name ‘Skid Row’ is eerily similar to ‘Death row’ which this article heartbreakingly encapsulates. But what is also really great about this article is that Désirée manages to capture the warmth of these people living in harsh environments on the street. She actually gets to know them, she visited the neighbourhood six times, got close with the inhabitants and fell for a community that is misunderstood by many and ignored by everyone else.
“Each year she goes back to LA to photograph the changing faces and places of Skid Row, a collection of images that she recently brought together in her photobook. i-D spoke her about her intriguing story about the special, diverse and lively community of Skid Row.”
Check out the full interview on i-d magazine here.
Words: Chandni Guram – @Chandni_Guram
