The Artist: Chris Hytha
Commitment to your craft is acquiring a Rowhome after released 100 photographs in a collection with the same title. Chris Hytha, a Philly-based photographer is renowned for his ‘Rowhomes’ series, which captures the unique character of the city’s historic row houses. By isolating these structures from their urban surroundings, Hytha emphasizes their architectural individuality and the stories they embody. His work not only highlights the beauty of these homes but also gives an urban face to economic decay.
"The urban fabric of Philadelphia is defined by its rowhome typology. Two to three stories, 15-20 feet wide. Within this consistent format, there is a remarkable amount of architectural variety that makes each home unique. Many of these structures have been standing for over 100 years, and for some, that time has started to show."
The Collection: Rowhomes
Some glow…some fade… they all represent an era of how we lived that is firmly in the rear vision mirror. The crisp edge Rowhomes contrast with the decayed bricks, stucco and peeling paint from within the framed building. Outside a Rowhome are various associated accessories including a junked car, a portaloo, overgrown gardens and traffic lights set to stop. Compositing allows for a creative juxtaposition to reinforce the visual narrative, and here we are being told that even the most striking physical objects have a fixed lifespan.
A Specific Artwork: Rowhome #80
Rowhome #80 is contrasted with the leafy greens of overgrown lots in the background. The clear blue gradient sky in sharp contrast to the dishevelled heart of a Barber Shop clinging on for its last patron. A window open upstairs suggest the building may still be in use. The road markings suggesting that the highway of development has passed this location by.
