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Emmanuel Rosario, born in 1989 to Dominican immigrant parents, found photography to be a means of escape from a challenging childhood in Harlem. He received his first camera in 2006 and soon realized that photography was not just a form of expression but also a way of life. According to Rosario, he was inspired by artists such as Mary Ellen Mark, Nan Goldin, Larry Clark, and his friend Theo Gosselin—artists known for portraying communities on the margins of society with a deeply personal and honest approach. A similar sense of intimacy and closeness permeates Rosario’s photographs, particularly in his award-winning series NYC Punk Scene, which documents the life of today’s punk community in New York.

The series began in 2020, and since then, Rosario has actively worked to portray the 21^st-century face of the punk subculture. “Punk in New York has never died—it has simply transformed,” the photographer explains. Rather than observing the scene from a distance, he builds his visual narrative as an active participant, relying on friendships within the community. His photographs offer a glimpse into the everyday lives of his subjects, showcasing moments inside apartments, at concerts, during house parties, and in street scenes—environments typically hidden from mainstream society. This honest access distinguishes Rosario’s work; he not only documents but also engages with the community he portrays with deep empathy.

Rosario’s series goes beyond mere documentation. His images offer a thoughtful reflection on how the spirit of punk persists in a world where social conformity is becoming an increasingly dominant expectation. The subjects of NYC Punk Scene are diverse, yet they are united by their commitment to living by their own standards. The raw honesty in Rosario’s work is not self-serving; rather, it serves as both an aesthetic and ethical foundation that defines his entire practice. He captures authentic moments that defy convention, favoring genuine, unfiltered expression over spectacle and staged compositions.

The 28 photographs on view at PaperLab Gallery are not only a visual record of the punk subculture, but they also pay tribute to the spirit that made the punk movement a defining cultural phenomenon in New York City. Rosario’s work helps preserve this important cultural legacy, offering an intimate and sensitive perspective on punk.