Mark Power 1975

Mike Mandel made this photographic print of Mark Power, and it's mounted on a card reminiscent of a baseball card. The choice of black and white tones emphasizes the grit and texture of the subject's workwear, and the Caterpillar logo on his cap signals a connection to heavy industry, and the labor associated with it. A baseball glove hints at leisure, yet even this speaks to work and practice. The watch on his wrist marks the passage of time, so often associated with capitalist modes of production. Mandel seems to be emphasizing the inherent dignity of labor, while also making reference to the way in which working people are often stereotyped or rendered invisible. By placing this image on a format that evokes the world of sport, Mandel elevates the everyday worker, and asks us to reconsider the social value of the labor they perform.