Untitled [New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, 2005] Possibly 2005 - 2010

Richard Misrach made this photograph, Untitled [New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, 2005], at some point after Hurricane Katrina devastated the area. What strikes me first is the bluntness of the message spray-painted on the house: "Lisa + Donnie R OK." It's so direct, almost primal, like cave paintings declaring existence. The black spray paint against the worn, white clapboard is stark. There’s something about the way the paint bleeds a little into the wood grain that makes it feel so human. The message is a simple declaration of survival, but it's also a mark of resilience, a way to reclaim space. It reminds me of Gordon Matta-Clark, who cut sections from condemned buildings, using architecture as a canvas for transformation. This photograph isn't just documenting destruction; it's capturing the human spirit's stubborn refusal to be erased. It is an artwork about communication and the most basic human needs: love and community.