The Other 1995

Vasiliy Ryabchenko made this gelatin silver print called ‘The Other’, and the process is totally part of the feeling, right? Because it's black and white, it’s all about tone and texture. Ryabchenko isn’t interested in hiding how it's made. You can almost smell the darkroom. There’s something about the way the light is hitting the figure, with this stark contrast against the background, that feels both theatrical and intimate, like a spotlight on a secret ritual. I keep coming back to the head. It is difficult to describe: a corn cob? A weird insect? It’s rough, it’s textured, it’s almost repulsive, but it draws you in. That part of the figure, obscured by the hat, is where all the mystery and tension lie. I’m reminded of Joel Peter Witkin. 'The Other' isn't trying to tell you what to think, it's asking you to feel something, even if you can’t quite name it.