Photography can be a powerful tool for research and cultural enrichment, a "key" to reading a historical context.
Everything that surrounds us, architecture, signage, advertising posters, urban objects,s speaks, communicates, leaves traces. Every element carries a code and a purpose, just like the one you identified in the case of propaganda.
Investigating these signs through images allows us to move closer to the reasons and dynamics behind an event, not only what happened, but also why and how. Often from a lateral, unexpected viewpoint, from a framing different from the official or dominant one.
It is in this ability to observe the margins, the seemingly secondary detail, that photography becomes a critical instrument. It does not merely document reality; it questions it and opens new ways of reading history.
Absolutely! There's a French artist who photographed doors. I can't remember the name or the project but I read about it. At first it seemed like random doors from all over Paris but on closer look he photographed the address where some sort of abuse had happened.
Images carry more than just their content, history, pain, emotion…
Very wise observation, and valuable contribution, thank you!
Great post and photos, Xavi. I think it can be easy for us to lose sight of the meaning behind architecture and the buildings that surround us. But there is a story to all of that. Thanks for reminding us of that.
Thanks for reading it Tom. Indeed, art, design and architecture can be, and have been powerful tools when those power-thirsty use it for indoctrination and discipline. we shouldn’t forget that so we can read the signs when we see them.
Very interesting post. And while I am a true fan of architecture and architectural details in photography, I think my fav image of yours today is the one that includes that lone tree. It has great character and I love it standing there with the architecture.
Thank you, mine too! the light, the geometry, the organic shape of the tree against the perfect angles of the architecture and the van as an analogy that it’s all now forgotten make it a nice picture… I think. If that tree could talk.
Photography can be a powerful tool for research and cultural enrichment, a "key" to reading a historical context.
Everything that surrounds us, architecture, signage, advertising posters, urban objects,s speaks, communicates, leaves traces. Every element carries a code and a purpose, just like the one you identified in the case of propaganda.
Investigating these signs through images allows us to move closer to the reasons and dynamics behind an event, not only what happened, but also why and how. Often from a lateral, unexpected viewpoint, from a framing different from the official or dominant one.
It is in this ability to observe the margins, the seemingly secondary detail, that photography becomes a critical instrument. It does not merely document reality; it questions it and opens new ways of reading history.
Absolutely! There's a French artist who photographed doors. I can't remember the name or the project but I read about it. At first it seemed like random doors from all over Paris but on closer look he photographed the address where some sort of abuse had happened.
Images carry more than just their content, history, pain, emotion…
Very wise observation, and valuable contribution, thank you!
Great post and photos, Xavi. I think it can be easy for us to lose sight of the meaning behind architecture and the buildings that surround us. But there is a story to all of that. Thanks for reminding us of that.
Thanks for reading it Tom. Indeed, art, design and architecture can be, and have been powerful tools when those power-thirsty use it for indoctrination and discipline. we shouldn’t forget that so we can read the signs when we see them.
Insightful & enjoyable, Xavi.
Cheers!
Thanks Kenneth!
Very interesting post. And while I am a true fan of architecture and architectural details in photography, I think my fav image of yours today is the one that includes that lone tree. It has great character and I love it standing there with the architecture.
Thank you, mine too! the light, the geometry, the organic shape of the tree against the perfect angles of the architecture and the van as an analogy that it’s all now forgotten make it a nice picture… I think. If that tree could talk.
Fascinating Xavi.