Making Happy, AKA Exit 43 1998

Justine Kurland's photograph, Making Happy, taken in 1969, presents a scene dominated by earth tones and the imposing geometry of infrastructure. The rusted carcass of a car lies in the foreground, juxtaposed against the concrete pillars of an overpass. This stark composition immediately evokes a sense of decay and abandonment, setting a somber mood. Kurland masterfully plays with the interplay between nature and industrial decay. The organic, chaotic spread of weeds and wild grasses contrasts sharply with the rigid, man-made structures looming above. This contrast destabilizes traditional notions of landscape photography, challenging viewers to reconsider the relationship between human progress and environmental degradation. The photograph's power lies in its ability to evoke complex emotions through formal means. By framing the scene in this way, Kurland prompts us to reflect on themes of entropy, societal neglect, and the uneasy coexistence of nature and industry within the American landscape. It encourages ongoing interpretation of our cultural values.