Papiermagazijn van de zetterij van de Deli Courant te Medan 1903 - 1908

This photograph of the paper warehouse of the Deli Courant in Medan, was made by an anonymous artist. It seems like the photographer didn’t want to leave a mark, but the reality is they captured the process of paper being organized in a warehouse. I love the stacked rectangular shapes and the black and white color scheme. There's a texture to the stacks of paper that almost feels like an abstract drawing. You know, it's funny, when you think about it, this photograph is like a painting made with light. The way the light hits those stacks of paper creates so many different shades of gray, and it makes me think about all the different possibilities that paper holds, all the words and stories waiting to be printed. It reminds me of Ed Ruscha's photographs of gas stations. Both artists are taking something really ordinary and making it into something really interesting. Art is a constant conversation. It doesn't give you all the answers, but it can open your mind up to all kinds of possibilities.