Berlin 1982

John Gossage made this photograph, Berlin, using traditional darkroom techniques. The high-contrast monochrome print draws our attention to the materiality of urban space. Look closely, and you will see the textures of grass, concrete, and foliage. These are the result of natural and manufactured processes, brought together here. Note the modular paving stones; repeated elements arranged by hand. Further along, a line of rough bricks suggests a garden under construction. The image prompts us to consider how spaces are made, and how human labor shapes our environment. Gossage directs us to look at the often-overlooked, to find beauty in what already exists. In doing so, he transcends traditional distinctions between fine art and everyday life. He shows us that the greatest rewards can come from looking closely at the world around us.