74V09 Possibly 1973 - 1993

This is John Divola’s photograph of a room, an image likely created with film and a camera. The marks on the wall read as a series of actions. The photograph reveals a space of neglect, or perhaps a space between uses, marked by simple forms made with spray paint. What I find so interesting is the way the texture and tones of the paint interact with the existing surface of the building. The graffiti is clearly layered on top of another set of marks; what I take to be a collection of dots. This duality highlights the process of image-making as a layering of different modes of being. The can of spray paint sitting in the middle of the shot further emphasizes the process. In a way, this makes me think of the work of Gordon Matta-Clark. Both artists create works which show us the bare bones of the everyday. Both embrace chance and see the beauty in what already exists. This photograph gives me pause. It's open-ended and avoids closure.