Striking images capturing the 'dark underbelly of America'

Legendary crime photographer Arthur Fellig, commonly known as Weegee, was born in Ukraine in 1899, died in New York in 1968, and is one of the most iconic photographers of the 20th century.

However, his work is not relegated to the past. According to Clément Chéroux, curator of the upcoming Weegee retrospective at the International Center of Photography in New York, his photos offer a unique lens into the American psyche and its fascination with crime.

'American spectacle culture has this dark, seedy underbelly', said ICP Director of Exhibitions Elisabeth Sherman, adding that 'That causes so many of the social and political issues that we faced then and that we're facing today.'

Video by Darryl Laiu and Anna Bressanin

16 October 2024