Urban Jungle

The term “concrete jungle” first came into popular verbiage in the latter half of the twentieth century, but it has only become more poignant and relevant recently; as urban centres continue to grow, people may feel themselves out of touch or disconnected from the natural landscape. Paul Casselman, however, sees things differently.

His photo exhibit, titled ‘Transient Topography,” precisely tackles this new perspective on our relationship with the urban landscapes of today. “The city is a changing terrain,” Casselman explains. “These tall buildings…they’re mountains.” It is true—in a way: at first glance, one might mistake “Filament,” a photograph of skyscraper condos and office buildings disappearing into low-lying cloud for a photograph of mountaintops from some distant corner of the world. A photo like “Glade,” a wide-angle shot of metal scaffolding bathed in light, takes its name from a natural formation—an open space in a forest.

But the connection between our man-made world and the natural environment is not limited to the photographs. The exhibit, on display in the PATH at One York Street, is itself a comment on the interplay of man and nature—even the space forces viewers to consider the human effect on the terrain. The project was a massive development by Menkes—a three-tower venture that includes two condo buildings, and connects directly to the PATH system. “The PATH is a place where things can happen beyond just retail and transportation,” says Casselman. It is representative of man’s interconnectivity with Toronto’s natural landscape, much like the other systems of connection between the city’s structural monoliths. “A lot of these buildings use sky bridges,” explains Casselman. “Because of the shale and bedrock so close to the surface.” This symbiotic relationship is precisely what Casselman hopes to explore through his photographs, and to begin the conversation about new and innovative ways of thinking about urban spaces.

Then there is the human side to the urban sprawl. Mimi Ng, Vice-President of Marketing for Menkes Developments, has worked with Casselman for over ten years, and believes his work also touches on the social reality of construction. In the past, Menkes has commissioned Casselman to photograph their other developments, and compiled his work into a book for purchasers—a gift Ng believes to be of special significance.

“Every light you see on in a building represents someone who is home, or someone who is in the office,” says Ng. “These photographs are not just about the actual construction process, but also about the tradespeople and labourers. It’s a reminder that a lot of time and energy went into creating these buildings.”

“This work is photojournalism and art at the same time, hopefully,” says Casselman. “It gives the viewer space to bring their own experience to it, and consider the broader implications.”

Maybe our city landscape doesn’t match our preconceived ideas about nature, but we still have our own version of mountaintops.