On Display:
THE CITY IN FOCUS

6 February - 4 March, 2025

OPENING: February 6, 5:30-7:30
RSVP HERE

The City in Focus is an exhibition featuring a selection of images by photographer Mathias Wasik from his New York City  series. According to the artist, walking in New York with a camera is to move past its chaos—blaring horns,  bustling crowds, and flashing lights—and uncover the quiet harmony that holds it all together. Wasik uses  the camera to transform seeing into a meditative practice, shifting from passive observation to intentional  focus—a way to pay attention to the smallest, most fleeting ordinary gestures: a breeze catching someone’s  hair, a child’s laughter, or the glance of a stranger at their own reflection. These small moments reveal a  softer, more intimate side of the city, portraying it not as an overwhelming force but as a mosaic of quiet,  poignant, and tender moments that reward those who take the time to truly look. 

Mathias Wasik (1982) is a photographer based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mathias uses his lens to explore  the layered stories of cityscapes – revealing their polished facades, hidden intricacies, and the fleeting  human connections that often go unnoticed. His photography serves as a satirical yet deeply affectionate  chronicle of modern urban culture. Mathias’ work has been featured in esteemed publications such as The  New York Times, The Guardian, BBC, and NPR. He has also collaborated with commercial clients like  Interbrand and Intel, and has worked with non-profits like Amnesty International and All Out.

SoRA Sanctuary Gallery

55 Washington St, Ste 736
Brooklyn, NY 11203

An exhibition space at the Strother School of Radical Attention.

Curator:
Federica Soletta

Exhibition Committee:
Raya Hazell
Gabriel Pérez-Barreiro
Joanna Fiduccia
Claudia Claremi

The Friends of Attention is a coalition of artists, scholars, and activists concerned with attentional forms (and practices) that are resistant to commodification. Founded in 2018 at the São Paulo Biennial, the collective makes films and texts, coordinates study groups, and convenes an annual series of workshops on “The Politics of Attention.” The Friends have written a “Handbook for the Attention Liberation Movements” and a “Manifesto for the Freedom of Attention.” These and other materials are available at www.friendsofattention.net.

Image credit: Mathias Wasik