College Students on Vacation 1992

Curator: Eric Breitenbach's black and white photograph, "College Students on Vacation," really captures a moment, doesn't it? The image is about 30 by 30 centimeters, giving it an almost intimate feel despite the crowd. Editor: Yes, intimate chaos is what I'd call it. There's something so raw and immediate about it, like stumbling upon a secret ritual. It feels impulsive and fleeting. Curator: Given the socio-political climate of the early 90s, this image is quite charged. It reminds us how spring break became a visual shorthand for a certain kind of American excess and freedom. Editor: Absolutely! And it makes me think about performance... are they aware of the camera, complicit in this…moment? Or is Breitenbach just a super stealthy observer? Is it a comment on youth, or something darker? Curator: That ambiguity is key to Breitenbach's work. It pushes us to consider what we bring to the viewing experience. Editor: It definitely makes you think, doesn't it? Beyond the surface, there is this sense of unbridled energy…or maybe just plain old youthful absurdity.