Boogie and the American Dream

Documentary Photographer Boogie on the Life/Death of the American Dream

TrueSlant in a new interview series by Matthew Newton launches its new project with an inaugural interview of one of my favorite photographers Boogie.For nearly 20 years, Serbian-born photographer Boogie has documented the lives of people marginalized by society, and those living on the fringe. He has photographed gang members and drug addicts in Brooklyn’s housing projects; neo-Nazi skinheads in Serbia; and transsexual prostitutes in Sao Paulo, Brazil gaining unfettered access into worlds where outsiders are normally greeted with violence, suspicion, or a combination of the two.He has told these stories with an unflinching eye — never recoiling, but always attempting to provide a truthful portrayal. “It’s just the way I see the world,” Boogie says. “People who view my work can make their own judgments.”Boogie’s photographs have the power to knock the wind out of you, or set a fire in your mind. His shots are provocative in an unexpected way. Amidst violence, sorrow, and grim reality, he manages to wring clarity and beauty from the chaos. You can check out the entire interview here