Untitled [New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, 2005] Possibly 2005 - 2010

Richard Misrach made this photograph of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in 2005 using what appears to be simple photographic processes. The red and pink markings on the facade of the house contrast with the dull browns and blues in the image, a clash of hues which emphasises the tragedy and trauma which is the subject of the work. The house bears a graffitied testimony to human experience, made using spray paint, the work has a documentary feel. Look closely, the pink paint is scrawled and earnest, conveying desperate messages of survival amongst the ruins: a phone number, a declaration, a name. It’s a human instinct to leave a mark, to say 'I was here'. Misrach is known for his large-scale color photographs that explore humanity's relationship with the American landscape. Think of Robert Adams, his stark images of the American West, where a similar sense of desolation and human impact is keenly felt. Ultimately, both artists invite us to reflect on what we leave behind, and how we make sense of it all.