I Give You Power

In his first photobook, Rulx Thork offers an intimate and tender portrayal of Brooklyn's urban street life

Inspired by the community-oriented oeuvres of photographers such as Nan Goldin and Larry Clark, Rulx Thork's work captures the constantly shifting nature of Brooklyn's streets, marked by an ephemeral rhythm of routine and chance encounters, from 2005 to 2018. The title of his first photobook is a reference to Nas' 1996 song "I Gave You Power"; instead of rapping from the viewpoint of a gun, it positions the camera as Thork's own source of power. A self-described shy observer, Thork transforms his lens into an instrument of agency, not just for himself but for his subjects, whose presence is captured with dignity and unwavering strength. From sun-drenched street corners where boys linger outside bodegas to the intimate embrace of a couple caught in a fleeting moment of tenderness, Thork weaves a narrative of coming of age, resilience and the ever-evolving American story-one that demands to be seen, heard and remembered.