Tyler Hicks, Brazilian-American
A men’s clothing shop in Izmir, Turkey, 2015
In Izmir, Turkey, in 2015, a menswear shop started to sell life jackets in preparation for 500,000 migrants to Europe. Izmir is a frequented spot for refugees and is populated with local businesses. On the right is stereotypical male clothing– suits with white button downs and ties. But the left presents mannequins in life jackets, as if they were presenting a new line of fashion rather than a life saving service. The integration of looming disaster and environmental hazards into the normalcy of everyday life is a terrifying reality. The prominent life jacket display portrays safety as more of a luxury and privilege rather than a basic human right. Label by Grace Cohen