A compelling photography project titled "Homo Mobilis" reveals how vehicles serve as powerful expressions of cultural identity, going far beyond mere transportation. Created by 63-year-old photographer Martin Roemers, this series features striking portraits of vehicles alongside their owners, captured against neutral backgrounds to highlight the intimate relationship between people and their cars.
Roemers, who was passionate about cars during his childhood, sought to demonstrate that "more than simple passengers, they transport an identity. We are what we drive, in a cultural sense more than a consumerist one." The project challenges conventional notions about vehicle ownership, suggesting that our choice of transportation reflects deeper aspects of our personal and cultural identity.
The inspiration for photographing subjects against neutral backgrounds came to Roemers while observing the massive traffic in Mumbai, India. To achieve this distinctive aesthetic, he conceived of using enormous white backdrops, requiring multiple versions with the largest measuring 12 meters by 7 meters (approximately 39 feet by 23 feet). The installation of these massive backdrops required the coordinated effort of about ten people at each location.
The technical challenges of the project varied by location, with local craftsmen adapting to create the necessary infrastructure. In India and Senegal, blacksmiths forged steel structures specifically designed to stretch and support the enormous fabric backdrops, demonstrating the collaborative nature of this international photography endeavor.
For Roemers, this project represents more than just artistic documentation – it serves as both a celebration and farewell to automotive culture. The photographer describes the work as "goodbye to a certain automotive culture that shaped the 20th century. Goodbye to the combustion engine. Goodbye to the idea that owning a car is a symbol of freedom or adulthood." This perspective frames the series as a historical document capturing the end of an era in transportation and personal mobility.
Throughout his travels, Roemers encountered numerous touching and amusing situations while creating these portraits, each interaction adding depth to his understanding of how different cultures relate to their vehicles. The project spans multiple countries and showcases a diverse range of vehicles, from luxury cars to simple three-wheeled electric vehicles, illustrating the universal human connection to personal transportation regardless of economic status or geographic location.
