Hippopotamus, Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Possibly 1985 - 1986

Volker Seding's photograph, "Hippopotamus, Brookfield Zoo, Chicago," captures a moment of observation, filtered through layers of enclosure. The image is cast in muted greens and browns, the palette subdued, almost melancholic. I am drawn to the bars in the foreground, which create a strong compositional element, a kind of visual barrier. It prompts questions about our relationship to the natural world and the act of viewing itself. The contrast between the cool, smooth bars and the hippo’s warm, textured skin highlights the artificiality of the zoo environment. The hippo, a massive, ancient creature, is confined within this constructed space, its existence framed and mediated by human design. This photograph reminds me of the work of Thomas Struth, particularly his museum photographs. Like Struth, Seding invites us to reflect on how we look, what we see, and the complex interplay between subject and observer. Art invites us to see the world in new ways, to question our assumptions, and to embrace the ambiguity that lies at the heart of the creative process.