Leon (53) Possibly 2017

Gerrit Meerman’s photograph, *Leon (53)*, captures a man absorbed in a flight simulator, a homemade cockpit built from what appears to be found metal. The material's inherent qualities – its strength, industrial origins, and the way it’s been repurposed – give the work a layered meaning. The cockpit evokes military aviation, while the surrounding clutter roots the scene in a domestic space. The man's intense focus contrasts with the mundane surroundings, blurring lines between the real and the virtual. The construction process speaks to the maker's skill and dedication, cobbling together materials to create a functioning simulator. This do-it-yourself ethos challenges traditional hierarchies of artistic creation, positioning the work somewhere between hobby, engineering, and art. The photograph invites us to consider the labor involved in crafting immersive experiences, whether in the digital realm or the physical world. Ultimately, *Leon (53)* reminds us that meaning arises from both the materials we use and the contexts we create.