Allan Kaprow's party 5 1957

Robert Frank’s photographic contact sheet shows us several frames of Allan Kaprow's "Party 5". When I look at this work, I try to imagine what it was like for Frank, holding his camera, trying to capture something of this event as it unfolded. It's like he's looking for the right shot, the perfect expression, the decisive moment. I can feel that searching, that attempt to find the essence of what’s happening. He shoots lots of images of the action taking place in a field. You get this sense of play, but also this underlying feeling of anxiety or tension, or something unspoken. It’s like Frank is trying to capture not just the party itself, but the feelings and relationships between people. The photos are like a dance between the artist, the subjects, and the medium. They are in conversation with one another. They inspire and inform each other.