Mars, 30 december 1976 Possibly 1976

"Mars, 30 december 1976," by Cary Markerink, is a black and white photograph, an image that seems caught between a document and a dream. Markerink's way of seeing the world feels like he's inviting us to consider a state of flux. The gray tones are so evenly distributed it's hard to tell if it's intentional or a trick of time. The physical texture of the photo is flat, almost matte, which gives the image a sense of distance. It's interesting how the composition focuses on this group of people in motion. Looking closely, there’s a tension between the still architecture in the background, the hard edged ‘Ministerie van Opbouw’ and the fluidity of the crowd walking in front of it. The lack of clarity pushes us to question the narrative: Is this a protest, a celebration, or something in between? It reminds me a little of the work of Lisette Model, who was also interested in capturing the grit and immediacy of everyday life. But where Model’s photos felt like a punch in the gut, Markerink’s feels more like a gentle nudge, asking us to look closer and consider what we think we know.