When based in Chicago in 1989, photographer Paul D’Amatos found himself in Pilsen, a Mexican community that he became a little fascinated by, so he started a photographic documentary of life there.
D’Amato says that in the beginning he believed he was witnessing “something that seemed socially significant… as an outsider, the only truth I had was the street.” But as he became more of a familiarity on the streets of Pilsen, D’Amato discovered that beyond the streets and the gangs, there were entire other lives. One gang, La Razas, were particularly generous with the photographer and he began being invited to various members of La Razas “weddings, quinceneras, house parties, and simply inside to eat”.
Barrio is a collection of beautifully candid and sometimes raw images that were collected during that time.
