Coney Island, save the Mermaids! - Florence Leyret Photography

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In just a little over an hour one can be transported from the commercialised, wealthy island of Manhattan to the old-school and ramshackle Coney Island, Brooklyn.
Since its inception in 1983, the Mermaid Parade has become more crowded and organised. But it still retains its spirit of individuality. It is a parade of free spirits and funky people who somehow feel a great connection with the world of Mermaids/ Mermen. (Sometimes, the connection is not obvious, though!)

I have been documenting the mermaid Parade for the last ten years. Each time I am struck by its sense of nostalgia and its affirmation of the power of eccentricity. I am also fascinated by the necessity for all of us to create or find our own rituals. It is a recurrent theme in my work, collective rituals that join us together.

FLORENCE LEYRET