Virginia 2015

Richard Ross made this photograph, *Virginia*, by carefully framing elements within an institutional architecture. The flat, almost synthetic blue of the walls grabs my attention. It’s the kind of color you might find in a public pool, but here it feels more like a stage set than an invitation. The paint application is smooth, almost antiseptic, without any visible brushstrokes. This slickness contributes to the sense of alienation, as if the space has been scrubbed clean of human touch. Look at the razor wire snaking along the top of the walls. It’s a sharp, decisive gesture. I think about how that line contrasts with the softer, more rounded forms of the basketball hoops. It’s an unsettling combination of play and confinement. Ross seems to be asking questions about the way we construct spaces, the way we control bodies, and the thin line between recreation and repression. Think of Robert Gober’s play equipment sculptures, a similar, melancholy feeling lingers. Ultimately, the image doesn't offer easy answers, but instead invites us to reflect on these complex themes.