Artist's Shadow/Wall 1986

Editor: This photograph, "Artist's Shadow/Wall" by Daido Moriyama, presents a stark black and white image. The shadow figure gives it an eerie feel, almost like a ghost. What do you make of the symbolic weight of this shadowy figure against the textured wall? Curator: Indeed. The shadow, a classic symbol of the unconscious and the hidden self, is projected onto a very real, textured wall. This juxtaposition speaks volumes about the artist's presence and absence. What might that say about cultural memory? Editor: It almost feels like the artist is both there and not there, leaving a trace on the world. So powerful! Curator: Precisely. The wall itself becomes a kind of cultural palimpsest, bearing witness to both the shadow’s fleeting presence and the enduring nature of the built environment. It certainly gives one a lot to consider.