When capital cities are chosen for symbolic or administrative reason, second cities often become thriving economic and cultural hubs, known for innovation and gathering global significance. In Second Cities, photography serves as a tool for in-depth exploration and investigation of urban landscapes. It embarks on a cognative journey, gradually revealing the essence and identity of these cities. Through visual representation, photography captures the tangible facets of urban life: the interplay of density, layers, overlays and juxtapositions of masses, volumes, and flows. Each photograph becomes a moment of claiming and restoring a sense of place, decoding its formal langage and its interconnectedness within the broader cityscape. These images, skillfully captured from privileged perspective, meticulously document the urban realities, offering a profound glimpse into the intricate complexities that define these non-capital metropolises.

Image credit: Giuseppe De Francesco, Second Cities [Istanbul, Batumi, Ho Chi Minh City], 2017