linocut print; 8×10”
“The Lights in the City brings attention to the dehumanization of people experiencing homelessness. I’ve noticed this both through the media and in my own community, where support for unhoused individuals continues to decline even as homelessness rises. Cincinnati, which has one of the highest homelessness rates in the country, has reported record numbers, yet the city and county still participate in policies banning people from sleeping outside. Demand at the city’s largest soup kitchen has also increased by thirty percent. Nationwide, many cities install hostile architecture, such as spiked or uneven benches, to discourage homeless individuals from resting in public spaces. My print highlights this dehumanization by contrasting the faceless, simplified figure of the homeless person with the detailed passersby. Although all figures are illuminated by phones or streetlights, only those walking past have clear identities, reflecting how society often acknowledges surroundings while ignoring the people most in need.”
ARTIST BIO: Anna Tran is a grade 11 student at Summit Country Day School studying art under art teacher Carrie Barnett.