Crenshaw/Washington Boulevard, Mid City Possibly 1994 - 1996

This gelatin silver print, titled Crenshaw/Washington Boulevard, Mid City, was made by Madoka Takagi sometime in her lifetime between 1956 and 2015. The image has a grainy, almost dreamlike quality, like an old photograph found in an attic. The tonal range is muted, existing between light and shadow, enhancing the melancholic mood. The texture of the print seems smooth, yet you can sense the subtle variations in tone. Look closely at the palm tree to the right, the way the light catches the fronds creates a sense of depth and dimensionality. Takagi’s work reminds me of Ed Ruscha, especially his photographs of Los Angeles architecture. There's a shared interest in the vernacular landscape, and a similar kind of deadpan humor, but also a deeper reflection on the passage of time and the way we perceive our environment. Art isn’t about answers, it’s about embracing ambiguity and staying open to new ways of seeing.