Through his work, David L. Johnson uncovers the subtle ways urban design shapes human interaction and access. He investigates the often-overlooked features of cities, such as barriers, spikes, and other forms of hostile architecture, transforming these elements through subtle interventions. By reconfiguring, removing, or reimagining these objects, Johnson creates work that probes issues of accessibility, exclusion, and the socio-political structures embedded in everyday urban life. His interdisciplinary approach combines photography, video, installation, and found objects to reveal the aesthetics and underlying histories of the built environment. Johnson’s work turns utilitarian elements of the city into visual narratives that expose the tensions between control, freedom, and collective experience. Through his interventions, he highlights the ways in which public spaces are designed to regulate behavior, prompting viewers to reconsider their relationship to the environments they inhabit. Johnson’s practice is both analytical and poetic, engaging with the city as a living organism and reflecting on the broader cultural and political forces that shape contemporary urban existence. ...
