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

Richard Misrach made this photograph, New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, in 2005, and I can't help but feel a connection to it, like a visual echo of the raw, unfiltered reality that often finds its way into my paintings. The red graffiti on the brick wall, "No animals found inside," hits you like a punch to the gut. What was it like for Misrach to frame this scene? He's standing there, camera in hand, making a decision about what to include and what to leave out. The piles of debris scattered around the house, the silent windows staring back... You can sense the weight of absence and loss. The way the light filters through the scene almost feels complicit, revealing the stark reality with a detached clarity. Looking at this photograph reminds me that art isn't just about pretty pictures; it's about bearing witness and finding ways to make sense of chaos, one brushstroke or snapshot at a time.