Act II: The Voyage: Of the achievements of great Civilizations 1980

Arthur Tress created "Act II: The Voyage: Of the achievements of great Civilizations" using photography. The photograph plunges us into a miniature theatrical world, a stage crowded with tiny furniture and props. The composition is dense, creating a sense of both abundance and claustrophobia. The warm hues of reds and browns contrast with the cooler blues, evoking a sense of nostalgia. Tress's use of scale and perspective creates a dreamlike scene where familiar objects are rendered strange. It prompts a reflection on civilization itself as a stage for human action, filled with props and symbols of our own making. The title implies a narrative, yet the chaotic arrangement suggests a disruption of any clear storyline. Is Tress suggesting the grand narratives of progress and civilization are just sets? Are we merely actors in a play of our own construction? The photograph challenges fixed meanings and values. The formal qualities of this work, its composition and use of color, function not just aesthetically but also as part of a larger cultural and philosophical discourse.