Homo Mobilis: Stunning Photography Reveals What Your Vehicle Says About You
A new photographic series, Homo Mobilis, powerfully demonstrates the enduring connection between people and their vehicles, suggesting that our choice of transport is as revealing as the clothes we wear or the homes we inhabit.
The fascination with automobiles extends beyond mere transportation. As one observer notes, “Cars have a talismanic quality. No other manufactured object has the same disturbing allure. More emotions are involved in cars than in anything else we make or use.” This sentiment underscores the core thesis of Martin Roemers’ remarkable project: that the vehicle we choose is a potent expression of personality and values.
Roemers’ work, documented in the newly released Homo Mobilis, presents a global portrait of individuals alongside their chosen modes of transport. From the United States and India to Ukraine, Senegal, and beyond, the photographer captures a diverse array of vehicles – not just cars and trucks, but also campervans, handcarts, ice-cream vans, and even donkey-carts. The sheer variety is striking, with a particular emphasis on the “eccentric”: taxis bearing the scars of countless journeys, family saloons showing their age, and lorries adorned with faded paint.
What sets Roemers’ photography apart is his deliberate removal of context. Inspired by Richard Avedon’s stark portraits against a white backdrop, Roemers isolates his subjects – vehicle and owner – against a similar neutral field. This technique, reminiscent of Avedon’s work, forces complete concentration on the vehicle’s textures, colors, and contents, transforming even the most dilapidated jalopy into a compelling work of art. The functional aspect of transport becomes secondary to the aesthetic impact.
The photographs reveal a compelling narrative. A special forces lieutenant returns from the frontline in Ukraine with his Toyota, while a courier navigates the bustling streets of India on a Bajaj truck. A family in India poses with their Hyundai, and ice-cream vendors in Bengaluru showcase their Tata van. These images, and many others, demonstrate how vehicles become extensions of their owners’ lives and livelihoods.
However, the series predominantly features vehicles owned by working-class individuals. This raises a pertinent question: what would Roemers make of the vehicles favored by the affluent? Would the glossy Mercedes S-Class, the Lamborghini, or even a cyclist’s bicycle reveal equally compelling insights into personality and values? The success of Homo Mobilis lies in its ability to spark such inquiries, suggesting a limitless potential for further exploration.
The photographs powerfully establish that “we are whatever we drive” is as valid a truism as “we are what we eat.” Homo Mobilis is not merely a collection of images; it’s a visual exploration of the human condition, revealing how we project ourselves onto the objects we use and how those objects, in turn, reflect who we are.
Homo Mobilis (Lannoo Publishers) is priced at £50. To support the Guardian, order your copy for £45 at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.
[Image of Carpet repair man Abdul in his Premier in Mumbai, India.]
[Image of Achal, university student Kajal, agriculturalist Srikanth, restaurant owner Santosh, university student Pushpa, and housewife Karisma, with their Hyundai in Nandi, Karnataka, India]
[Image of Motorcycle taxi driver Akasa and passenger Djenaba on a KTM in Thiès, Senegal]
[Image of Ice-cream vendors Hariom and Vinoth in their Tata van in Bengaluru, India]
[Image of Rickshaw driver Daniel with sales employees Steven and Demetrius in a Paddycab in Venice Beach, LA, US.]
[Image of Vegetable sellers Manik and Yashoda in their Bajaj in Nashik, Maharashtra, India]
[Image of Commercial agent Anta, massage therapist Anna, estate agent Amadou with a Hyundai in Somone, Senegal]
[Image of Mechanic Revi, entrepreneur Gyan, manager Praveen, sales executive Mohammed, and investor Rakesh with a Chevrolet in Bengaluru, India]
[Image of Taxi driver Ahong in a Xinfu in Shanghai, China]
[Image of Rickshaw puller Tapeshwar and teacher Ruma in Kolkata, India]
[Image of Ice-cream sellers Victoria and Mario and their grandson Giovanni in a Ford van in Santa Monica, California, US]
[Image of Toy vendor Xuxing with a Mu Ling motorbike in Shanghai, China]
[Image of Organic farmer Peter in his Dodge truck, Peconic, New York, US]
[Image of Housewife Zu‘en and her son Naige riding a Shuanghe in Shanghai, China]
[Image of Artist Sofia in a Smart car in Lviv, Ukraine.]
[Image of Couriers Mohammad, Mohammad and Sabir in a Bajaj truck in Malegaon, Maharashtra, India]
[Image of Taxi driver Cheikh and market vendor Arame in a Renault in Noto, Senegal]
[Image of Expressionist artist Pat in a Toyota campervan in Santa Monica, California, US]
[Image of Office assistant Denise, landscaper Jeramy and Vicky with a Chevrolet in Los Angeles, US.]
[Image of Restaurant manager Frauke and Zora with a Smart car in Delft, Netherlands]
[Image of Recording artist Mijan and actor Amazon with a Hyundai in Santa Monica, California, US]
[Image of Courier Bally in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India]
[Image of Truck driver Moustapha with assistant Boubacar in a Berliet truck in Nguékhokh, Senegal.]
[Image of Juan, an immigrant from Mexico, with his Ford campervan in Santa Monica, California, US.]
[Image of Car sales staff Aïcha, Yvonne, Fatimata and Becaye with a Mini in Dakar, Senegal.]
