Humid, crammed, compressed. Photographer Michael Wolf captures the everyday horrors imposed on Japanese commuters by Tokyo’s underground system.

 

Part of this series is currently exhibited at Street.Life.Photography. at Kunst Haus Wien. As the title suggests, the exhibition depicts the evolution of street photography over the years. Discover digital as well as analog works of renowned names such as Martin Parr or Wolfgang Tillmanns but also Viennese photographer Alex Dietrich.

 

Tokyo Compression

 

 

“Tokyo compression depicts an urban hell and by hunting down these commuters with his camera, Wolf highlights their complete vulnerability to the city at its most extreme.”

 

 

“As with architecture of density, Wolf uses a ‘no exit’ photographic style, trapping the gaze of the viewer within the frame just as the passengers are unable to escape the confinement of these temporary cells.”

 

 

“The images create a sense of discomfort as his victims attempt to squirm out of view or simply close their eyes, wishing the photographer to go away”

 

 

If you’re in Vienna right now, do not miss out on Street. Life. Photography.