(Cam Hicks)(カム・ヒックス) (For the Porch)

New York: Paradigm 2020 Hardcover 240pages, Ltd of 500
Condition: New, Sealed copy

Cam Hicks’ debut photo memoir, For the Porch is a vibrant reflection of the photographer’s first four years immersed in the underground scene of New York City. Featuring 240 pages, over 400 photos and visuals, and 100 editions signed by the artist himself at Dover Street Market New York, this stunning work of visual storytelling opens a portal into the life of an underground artist navigating his way through a vast, eclectic, and often exploitative culture. For the Porch is a representation of the kind of talent and breed that can’t be bought nor replicated: born in the age of social media, wholly immersed in Black culture, and molded to become the bridge between worlds.

The centrality of the internet and social media to the so called “culture industry” has accelerated and intensified the exploitation of youth culture by large corporations and legacy high fashion institutions. At its core, For the Porch is a cautionary tale told from a touchingly personal point of view, angled from the center of this industry. It’s a triumph of dedication, skill, and self-possession, chronicling the consequences of falling prey to external pressures, and the creation of a “personal brand,” or persona, instead of focusing on the refinement of a skill set or craft. Showcasing work with Louis Vuitton, Nike, New Balance, The North Face, and Engineered Garments, Cam looks back on these projects and considers the motives and meaning of a cultivated power and skill honed to move freely across cultures from an avante-garde perspective.