Zuma #14 1978

This photograph, Zuma #14, was taken by John Divola. I imagine Divola wandering into this desolate space, maybe trespassing a bit, drawn by the stark contrast of destruction and the promise of the ocean view. The burnt wood is a stark charcoal drawing against a pale sky. This isn't just documentation; it’s an intervention, a conversation. There's a dialogue here between inside and outside, absence and presence. It's like he's painting with light, layering his own vision onto the already layered history of the place. I can almost feel the grit under my fingernails, smell the smoke. It reminds me of Gordon Matta-Clark’s building cuts—a similar desire to peel back layers, reveal hidden truths through architectural surgery. Divola invites us to contemplate the nature of impermanence, the beauty in decay, and the conversations between artists across time.