The night butterfly 2019

Alfred Freddy Krupa made this photograph, "The Night Butterfly," whenever—whenever the moment was right. The whole thing is cast in black and white, which lends a kind of timeless quality. It's like, is this now, or is this some time ago? I’m drawn to the materiality of this image. Look at the wall behind the butterfly; the texture is almost palpable, like you could reach out and feel the grit and wear of it. Then there’s this delicate butterfly, caught between, perched on the edge of a wall, but also in flight. The butterfly itself seems almost like a found object, something Krupa discovered and recontextualized. I imagine that it would appear to be a sculptural form in person. It reminds me of some of the early surrealist photography of the 1920’s. Like Man Ray, Krupa embraces chance and experimentation, allowing the medium to dictate the message. Ultimately, this photograph is about the beauty of the transient, the overlooked moments that make up the fabric of our lives.