Globalization has progressively transformed the visual identity of cities across the world. These twenty photographic comparisons contrast each city’s more recent appearance with an earlier view. From the perspective of Cancerism, the repetition of similar skylines and urban forms illustrates a process of de-differentiation: distinctive local landscapes yield to an increasingly uniform model of urban development.
The photographs illustrate changes over time and do not necessarily show the cities as they appear today. In each pair, the more recent image comes first and the older view second.
1. Moscow
Two views of Moscow, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
2. London
Two views of London, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
3. Beijing
Two views of Beijing, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
4. Paris
Two views of Paris, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
5. Tokyo
Two views of Tokyo, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
6. New York
Two views of New York, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
7. Shanghai
Two views of Shanghai, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
8. São Paulo
Two views of São Paulo, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
9. Singapore
Two views of Singapore, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
10. Cape Town
Two views of Cape Town, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
11. Hong Kong
Two views of Hong Kong, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
12. Milan
Two views of Milan, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
13. Buenos Aires
Two views of Buenos Aires, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
14. Istanbul
Two views of Istanbul, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
15. Berlin
Two views of Berlin, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
16. Cairo
Two views of Cairo, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
17. Mexico City
Two views of Mexico City, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
18. Karachi
Two views of Karachi, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
19. Mumbai
Two views of Mumbai, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
20. Jakarta
Two views of Jakarta, showing the transformation of its skyline and urban character over time.
