Stairway to Heaven 2017

Curator: This photograph, "Stairway to Heaven" by Alfred Freddy Krupa, was taken in 2017 and is, simply, stunning. Editor: Yes, it really draws you in! It’s just a photo of a stairwell, but the way the rectangles recede…it's quite powerful. What's your interpretation? Curator: I find it intriguing to consider the materials themselves. Think of the concrete, the steel. These are the base elements of so much architecture, often overlooked. Editor: You mean like the basic building blocks? Curator: Exactly! They are transformed here into something almost… ethereal. The labor involved in extracting, forming, and assembling these materials is rendered invisible. The artist invites us to contemplate the industrial processes which gave form to this piece. Where do those raw elements originate and where will they go next? It encourages me to question how we consume architecture. What does the title mean to you in this light? Editor: That’s a very different reading than what I expected, but it's so much more interesting! I guess I was focusing on the *idea* of ascension implied by the title, the metaphorical possibilities… Curator: Well, both readings work! But considering the materials brings us back to earth, doesn’t it? It ties the grand gesture of the title to the physical world. Editor: I hadn't considered the labor aspect or the origin of these base materials. I'll definitely be looking at architecture, and photography, with new eyes now. Thank you.