Image via Design Observer: David Maisel, Library of Dust 387, 2005, C-print, 64 x 48 inches, courtesy of Von Lintel Gallery and the artist
Adam Harrison Levy's got an incredible piece up on Design Observer right now. Here's a couple paragraphs, but you gotta read the whole thing.
Standing in front of these large-scale photographs, as I became accustomed to the visual impact of their astonishing color, the meaning of these images grew. Each canister held the remains of a human body, an unknown person who had been labeled mentally ill, who had been locked away in an asylum, and who after death had been left unclaimed for years, stacked on a shelf. These canisters held significance far greater than simply being beautiful objects.
The gallery installation didn't make this clear, and it's a failing. Unknowing visitors, I was told, first think these are images of bullets, paint cans or corroded batteries. When they are told what they really are, most are stunned into silence.
Create a Core77 Account
Already have an account? Sign In
By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use
Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password.