Abandoned staircase in Gajeva 20 2017

Curator: We're looking at "Abandoned staircase in Gajeva 20," a 2017 photograph by Alfred Freddy Krupa. It’s a stark, monochrome image. Editor: Immediately, I feel a sense of unease. It’s very claustrophobic and a bit gothic, despite the stark geometric lines. Curator: Krupa is known for his experimentation with ink wash techniques applied to various media, so photography fits well within his broader practice. This image presents a decaying architectural space; it brings to mind the crumbling infrastructure often left behind in post-industrial societies. Think of Detroit, for example, or any city grappling with deindustrialization. Editor: Yes, it’s not just decay, but a very particular kind of urban decay. There is something implicitly about power structures here, like a forgotten pathway that used to be essential, now abandoned by the people it served. The absence of people is a strong statement in itself. Curator: Exactly. The photograph’s success lies in its capturing a transient moment. A specific address even gives the image geographical weight and context, suggesting a sociopolitical backdrop rooted in the realities of a real location, that specific stairwell, which now represents countless others. Editor: It's interesting how the limited tonal range—the blacks and greys—contributes to that mood of abandonment. It flattens the image, making it feel timeless, even spectral. It’s almost as if the photograph isn't just documenting the present but also all the layered past moments it encapsulates. Curator: Indeed, photography itself has always had a complex relationship to truth and representation, and Krupa engages with that tension here by documenting something as ostensibly "real" as a building. Editor: Well, after seeing the layers beneath the immediate aesthetic impression, I will be contemplating urban space and how its narratives impact marginalized societies, specifically focusing on Gajeva. Curator: A perfect reflection on how the everyday architecture shapes urban society, how society shapes its imagery, and finally, how we can appreciate it beyond aesthetic.