Karaim Cemetery 2001

Arsen Savadov made this photograph called Karaim Cemetery. The color palette is muted browns and greys. It's like he captured a moment, a still life, where the hand of time is most apparent. What strikes me about this image is how the light and shadow play across the scene. See how the sun picks out the textures of the headstones? They seem to be almost swallowed by the earth, with nature asserting itself. I can almost feel the dampness of the leaves. There are fallen branches placed carefully in the lower left, and a really nice sense of atmosphere and depth. Savadov, like the Bechers, is drawn to documenting sites. What's so cool about art is the way it invites multiple interpretations. There's no single 'right' way to see or experience it, and the more perspectives we bring to the table, the richer our understanding becomes.