LA Metro's 'Life Underground' series shows subways, rider stories

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) unveiled  in partnership with filmmaker Hervé Cohen, will present Life Underground, an immersive media installation and interactive web documentary featuring subway rider stories from across the globe at Los Angeles Union Station Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, 2017.

Life Underground invites visitors on a journey through the subways of the world and the personal stories of passengers. The experience features dozens of subway riders selected purely by chance who tell their stories of love, dreams, family and migration, creating a celebration of public transportation and the human experience.

“Hearing people’s stories is a privilege that inspires us to broaden how we think about ourselves and the world around us,” said Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Eric Garcetti. “We are proud that Metro riders are featured in this creative installation, which will showcase voices and perspectives from all over the world.”

Metro’s Art & Design program enhances the customer experience with innovative visual and performing arts programming that encourages ridership and connects people, sites and neighborhoods throughout the region.

“As our subway system grows throughout Los Angeles County, we continue to showcase the importance of integrating the arts into the transit experience,” said Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington. “Metro Art & Design is award-winning and innovative, and exhibitions like these really help to add vibrancy to our transit properties.”

Four different Los Angeles subway rider stories are featured in both the web documentary and the multimedia exhibition:

• Natalya, 28, is celebrating having just transitioned to becoming a woman. She shares both apprehension and excitement about her new identity.

• Idris, 16, is returning from summer school. He has just lost his mother, and the healing process is slow but steady.

• Edward, 49, says he will never get married or have a steady relationship. After a shattering heartbreak, his closest companion is now his African grey parrot.

• Erick, 24, is an immigrant from Guatemala commuting from his morning job to his afternoon job. Having just learned that he’s about to become a father, Erick is excited but unsure about the future.

Filmmaker Hervé Cohen, who collaborated with artist Tonian Irving and music composer Brian Rodvien, began filming city subway systems in June 2016. The web documentary will be released worldwide in March 2018 during the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas.

To learn more about Metro Art & Design, visit metro.net/art, instagram.com/metro.art.la and facebook.com/metroartla.