Empossamento #9 2003

Editor: This is Mauro Restiffe's black and white photograph, Empossamento #9. It shows a massive crowd. It feels chaotic, almost overwhelming. What's your take? Curator: The scale emphasizes the sheer labor and bodies present at this event. The photograph’s materiality itself—the graininess of the film, the stark contrast—speaks to the means of production, documenting a moment of potentially transformative political action. Editor: Transformative how? Curator: Consider the raw materiality of a protest, the collective energy, and the labor involved. The photograph makes the viewer consider the relationship between the individuals, and the built environment of the city. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. Thanks! Curator: The devil is always in the details. Thanks for helping me flesh out the material conditions.