Golf Course under Construction, Arizona 1993

Emmet Gowin made this black and white photograph, titled Golf Course under Construction, Arizona, using gelatin silver. The stark tonality in the image feels ecological. It is a blunt statement about humanity’s impact on nature, and also reminds me of the pallette of Jasper John’s ‘Corpse and Mirror’ - those washed greys, blacks and whites. It's fascinating how the shapes of the water and land mimic each other, as if the earth is trying to reclaim what was once hers. Look at the network of cracks near the upper center of the image, like dry earth crying out for water. It’s a reminder that everything is connected, and that even the most manicured landscapes are still part of a larger ecosystem. Gowin is not so different from someone like Robert Smithson, it’s all about how we perceive and interact with the land. Ultimately, this photograph invites us to consider our role in shaping the world around us.