Posted on by Anna Pack

Calle 4 Sur (South Street four) 

Nominated by Jerry Vezzuso

Featuring: Antonio Pulgarin



“Calle 4 Sur (South Street Four)” focuses on the individuals impacted by the civil war conflict in Colombia. At the age of three my mother and I left our home at Calle 4 Sur, an urban neighborhood located in Bogota, Colombia, in pursuit of a better life. Growing up in the United States I was unaware of the turmoil plaguing my country. At the age of 23 I began traveling to Colombia, at first as a means of reconnecting with my culture. As time went on I invested more time in learning about the political revolution that had gripped my country. Throughout my trips I explored various parts of Colombia including Ibague, Cali, Bogota, and Medellin. My home base was always Calle 4 Sur.

Colombia’s civil war began in the 1960s. In early 2015, Peace talks between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) took place. These peace talks ended in a standstill shortly after the abduction of General Rubén Darío Alzate Mora. The impact of war and political turmoil has affected multiple generations of Colombian men and women. I photograph students, civilians, religious leaders, and radical protesters to understand their perspectives and approach to ending the conflict. These photographs celebrate a resilient Colombia and it’s people. They address a contemporary Colombian narrative.

Originally from Bogota, Colombia, Antonio Pulgarin is a documentary fine art photographer based in Brooklyn, New York. Pulgarin received his BFA in Photography from the School of Visual Arts. Through his photographs, Pulgarin, examines the narratives of his subjects; subjects from communities often overlooked by mainstream media. In the end, his photographs are a celebration of his subjects and culture. Pulgarin and has been shown in the Brooklyn Museum, Daniel Cooney Fine Art Gallery, La Maison d’ Art Gallery, The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse, Powerhouse Arena and later this year at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. His work has received honors from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, Latin American Fotografia (2,3, & 4),American Photography (30), and PDN Photo Annual 2014. Pulgarin was nominated for PDN’s 30 Emerging Photographers to watch (2013 & 2014).