In the photographic works of Xan Padrón, urban walking is no longer just an ordinary city practice; it takes on different meanings depending on whether it is done in the rain, under the sun, in familiar terrain, in urgency and quick movement, in the middle of a conversation, by the seaside, or in front of a green wall. By choosing a fixed background in the heart of one of the many cities he has explored, this renowned street photographer of Spanish origin, based in New York, perpetuates anthropologists' interest in walking, which engages not only the body but also a state of mind and a perception of the city. To do this, he offers us a series called Time Lapse, through which he artistically and humorously details unique pedestrian experiences. The title of his exhibition immediately reveals how the artist combines his love of movement and rhythm—he is also a musician—with artistic techniques. Literally, Time Lapse is a technique that reveals actions and movements that are difficult to observe at real speed. Pedestrian movements in urban environments are thus a favorable exploration ground for this technique. It took Xan Padrón's discreet eye and compositions to give meaning to this urban fact, capturing, as Marcel Mauss would say, the full-body movements when it is not at rest. Mauss was the first to talk about walking as an acquired and learned act. Here, let's outline the main assets of this photographic work for an anthropologist, but also for all exhibition visitors who will no longer see walking as a simple natural fact devoid of context but rather as a social fact of urban mobility.
