A.O.N.B. (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) 1982 - 1984

Curator: Keith Arnatt's photographic work, titled A.O.N.B. (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), presents us with an intriguing composition. Editor: It feels stark, doesn't it? A desolate ruin, captured in monochrome, evokes a sense of abandonment. Curator: Indeed, the interplay of textures is quite striking; the rough stonework contrasts with the smooth, almost clinical, brick infill. Editor: And that infill disrupts any romantic notion of decay; it's a crude, imposed intervention, highlighting humanity's impact on the 'natural'. The title itself feels ironic. Curator: Precisely. Arnatt seems to be playing with our expectations, questioning the very idea of pristine landscapes. The composition directs the eye towards these subtle contrasts. Editor: It's a commentary on land use and the commodification of nature, rendered with a beautifully austere gaze. Curator: A powerful statement, conveyed through minimalist means. Editor: The beauty lies in its unsettling truth.