Valencia, Spain 1 1952

Robert Frank created this series of images in Valencia, Spain using photographic film. I love the way Frank gives us the full matrix of his film roll, with all its imperfections. It reminds me that artmaking is a process, not just a perfect end result. Here, the materiality of the film itself becomes part of the artwork. I see scratches, dust, and even the sprocket holes that advanced the film through the camera. It’s like seeing the artist's thought process laid bare. The images vary in clarity and focus, some are even marked with what looks like grease pencil. There’s a frame with a little monkey. I just keep looking at the monkey. Frank's rough and ready approach reminds me of the work of Daido Moriyama, who also embraced the gritty, imperfect aspects of photography. Ultimately, "Valencia, Spain 1" is less about Spain, and more about how photographs can construct different ways of seeing and experiencing the world.