246 Days Old Possibly 1989 - 1998

Curator: Debora Hunter’s photographic work, titled "246 Days Old," possibly dating from between 1989 and 1998, presents a striking juxtaposition. It’s a C-print, a seemingly simple medium used to create quite a complex image. Editor: Immediately, I’m drawn to the contrast—the small, soft form of the child silhouetted against the hard, geometric cityscape. The pose is one of adoration, almost worship, directed towards a world that is inherently industrial and, frankly, a bit imposing. Curator: Right, and I think the material context here is crucial. The child, presented almost as a vulnerable object, is placed within this very specific setting. You can feel the city itself as a constructing presence in the subject's life. This wasn’t taken in some remote cabin; it was a deliberate act within an environment shaped by capitalist growth, building, and production. Editor: Formally, the light directs everything. The child sits bathed in a golden sunlight—a pure, unfiltered light—while the cityscape beyond is slightly muted by atmospheric perspective, reinforcing that dichotomy. The bare skin, the wooden window frame, all radiate a different materiality from the glassy city in the background. Curator: And what does it mean for labor? This photograph isn't just taken; it’s constructed. Think about the resources necessary for this lifestyle of being an urban dweller, gazing through that window. And who built those skyscrapers? The photo alludes to societal power structures through architectural statements. Editor: Agreed, it’s impossible to ignore the semiotic weight of that composition. The child, positioned as an innocent viewer, begs the question: what meanings and structures are already present at the start of experience and seeing, within our field of vision? And how does one come to reconcile being oneself while confronted with this? Curator: Considering that the image is from possibly 1989 to 1998, think of all the consumption tied into family ideals in the decade, too, and of this idea of new beginnings! Editor: Precisely! Through my interpretation, that moment feels so poignant. A life only 246 days in progress contemplating—or even challenging—the existing environment. The beauty of those divergent perspectives is undeniable.