See Saw 1960

Simone Forti made "See Saw" with a camera, at an undetermined date. The black and white palette turns the image into a study of pure tonal relationships. The composition is intriguing. The eye is drawn to the plank of wood in the center, the texture of the wood is palpable and the grain is visible. A crouching figure to the left and a prone figure on the right. These two become almost sculptural. The eye travels up and down this seesaw, the fulcrum anchoring the whole scene. The artist's attention to the tonal range, from deep blacks to bright whites, creates a stark contrast that accentuates the forms and textures within the space. I am reminded of the Italian Arte Povera movement, exploring simple forms and the poetry of everyday objects. It’s about embracing the ephemeral, the transient, and finding beauty in the raw and unrefined. This feels like a conversation that goes on and on.