Make New York Great Again - 2018
I traveled to New York City for the first time in 2018, at a strange and fascinating moment in-between eras. Times Square still carried traces of the 1990s, oversized billboards, aging neon, old McDonald’s signs, while the city stood on the edge of something new.
It was pre-hyper social media, before influencers fully shaped the way we travelled and experienced places, a quiet turning point just before everything accelerated and, eventually, before the world lockdown changed everything.
During my stay in New York, I based myself in Bushwick, Brooklyn, near Myrtle Avenue, not far from the apartment where Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe first lived together in the late 1960s and early 1970s. There was something poetic about walking through a neighborhood that had once shaped two of America's most influential artists.
What struck me most about Bushwick was its diversity. The neighborhood felt like a genuine melting pot, something I have always appreciated growing up in and around Brussels. On any given day, I encountered people from almost every corner of the world: Hispanic families, African-American communities, Orthodox Jewish residents from nearby neighborhoods, longtime New Yorkers and young creatives who had recently arrived. The mix of cultures gave the area an energy that felt authentic rather than curated.
Unlike today's Instagram-friendly neighborhoods, Bushwick in 2018 was still relatively rough around the edges. There were few trendy coffee shops and specialty cafés. Instead, the streets were lined with classic diners, dollar stores, delis, discount sneaker shops, fast-food restaurants and small businesses serving fresh juices and smoothies. It was everyday New York, unpolished and alive.
At night, I discovered places such as Bossa Nova Civic Club and Mood Ring, while House of Yes was recommended to us by a passer-by we met on the street. These venues offered a glimpse into a creative underground that felt spontaneous and welcoming rather than commercial.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Bushwick was life beneath the elevated subway tracks. Coming from Europe, I had never experienced anything quite like it. The train rumbled overhead while daily life unfolded below: people shopping, talking, eating, working and gathering. It felt as though the city existed both above and below ground at the same time. The rhythm, noise and constant movement created a cinematic atmosphere that stayed with me throughout the trip.
Looking back, Bushwick became as memorable to me as Manhattan itself. It offered a different perspective on New York City: less polished, more diverse, and deeply connected to the everyday lives of the people who call it home. My camera could hardly keep up with everything my eyes wanted to capture.