Portuguese Beachfront (close-up) 1990

Curator: James Casebere's "Portuguese Beachfront (close-up)" presents us with a black and white photograph of what appears to be miniature architectural models. There’s something unsettling about its staged quality. Editor: I agree; it feels both familiar and alien. The stark light and shadows highlight the materiality of the models, their artificiality. Curator: Casebere often explores themes of displacement and societal structures through these constructed realities. The monochromatic palette flattens the image, almost like a memory fading. It's interesting to think about how Portuguese identity and history are being distilled through this very American lens. Editor: Exactly. And look at the craft itself, these handcrafted models stand in for a place, referencing labor, place, and even the tourism industry. Curator: The image encourages us to question the authenticity of our perceptions and the narratives we build around places and identities. Editor: Yes, a fascinating commentary on the construction of reality through materials and making.