Smelly "pool" 2016

This untitled photograph, "Smelly Pool", was made by Alfred Freddy Krupa sometime after his birth in 1971. The photograph plays with light and shadow in such a way that it evokes a feeling of both urban decay and an almost holy, spiritual space. The walls that create the tunnel in this work are covered with graffiti. I am drawn to the contrast between the hard lines of the architectural structure and the chaotic, organic nature of the graffiti. It’s like two different worlds colliding. The reflections in the water add another layer of complexity, distorting the already fragmented reality. There’s a strong sense of realism here, but also abstraction. It reminds me of the way Robert Rauschenberg combined painting and found objects to challenge traditional notions of art. Like Rauschenberg, Krupa invites us to see the beauty in the everyday, the overlooked, and the discarded. It challenges our perception and asks us to reconsider what we consider art.