Urbanus VI 1999

Iseult Labote made this photograph, called Urbanus VI, that shows the light glinting off the surface of something… a metallic grid of some kind. It's not exactly clear what we're looking at, and that's part of the fun. The way Labote has captured the light—those little gold bars glowing against the muted grey—it's almost like she's painting with light itself. You can sense the texture of the metal, the way the light catches on the surface. It’s not just about recording what’s there; it's about feeling it. Look at the way the light varies across each section of the grid. This reminds me a bit of the way Agnes Martin uses subtle variations in tone and texture to create these shimmering, ethereal surfaces. And like Martin, Labote seems interested in the space between things, the way light and shadow can create depth and movement. The beauty is in the details.