74V04 Possibly 1973 - 1993

Editor: Here we have John Divola’s "74V04," believed to have been made sometime between 1973 and 1993. It's a gelatin silver print of what appears to be an abandoned space, with damaged walls covered in graffiti and abstract shapes. I’m immediately struck by its chaotic energy, a stark contrast to traditional landscape photography. What’s your interpretation? Curator: It’s delicious, isn't it? A rebel yell captured in monochrome. For me, Divola is a bit of a visual poet, transforming decay into something oddly… beautiful? He doesn’t just document a derelict space; he collaborates with it. The added graffiti dances with the pre-existing chaos, creating a conversation across time, doesn't it feel like that? He photographs on-site interventions – what do you make of this dialogue between the "found" and the "applied?" Editor: That idea of a dialogue is intriguing! I initially saw it as a document of urban blight, but framing it as a collaboration opens up a completely different perspective. The way the paint interacts with the exposed lath really emphasizes the texture, too. Curator: Precisely! It's almost sculptural, isn't it? Divola captures this raw energy, making the unseen visible. In a world saturated with polished perfection, his work dares to find beauty in the imperfect, the forgotten. It makes one question what's conventionally acceptable to photograph. What I am wondering, are there things hidden in the light areas and in the black openings? Editor: I never considered it that way. I was so focused on the decay that I missed the artistry. I wonder what the history of this building is. I agree; the sculpture is hiding in the depths of the frame. I leave more appreciative of site-specific photography, like the work of Gordon Matta-Clark. Curator: Exactly! Matta-Clark is a wonderful comparison! Thank you! I now think Divola’s not just capturing a space, he’s capturing a moment. Maybe that photograph has secrets it will keep. I enjoyed this discussion!