Office Building, Jericho Turnpike 1979

Editor: This is Elaine Mayes' photograph, "Office Building, Jericho Turnpike." I'm struck by how... sterile it feels. The stark architecture and the figures almost seem like they're performing roles. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's interesting that you use the word "sterile." I see this photograph as a critique of corporate conformity and the architectural homogeneity that often accompanies it. The figures, almost indistinguishable in their business attire, could represent the alienation of the individual within such systems. Does the setting invite community, or does it isolate? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way. It makes me think about the design of office spaces and how they affect the people who work in them. Curator: Exactly! Mayes is prompting us to question the social implications of these environments and the power structures they embody. Hopefully we can think twice about spaces like these!