The X-Ray Plex 1986

Arthur Tress created "The X-Ray Plex" using photography and a vibrant colour palette. The composition teeters between chaos and order; the objects—sculptural assemblages of metal and found materials—are arranged against a graffiti-splattered brick wall, creating a sense of depth. The foreground is strewn with colorful, cylindrical objects, leading the eye towards the complex machinery. The textures, from the rough brick to the corroded metal, add a tactile dimension to the visual experience. Tress challenges conventional photography by merging documentary with surrealist elements. The objects, though recognizable in part, combine to form something alien, destabilizing established categories. The use of vivid color further dislocates the scene from reality, pushing it into the realm of the subconscious. The graffiti behind these structures acts as a semiotic system of layered messages that both conceals and reveals cultural codes. This visual layering suggests a dialogue between decay and creativity.