Untitled 2020

This photograph by EtchingRoom1, made around 2016, is an exploration into the textures and tonal variations possible through the etching process. I love the contrast between the rough, almost brutalist texture of the concrete block, and the delicacy of the photographic medium used to capture it. The artist must have been really thinking about how to play with shadow and light, turning something hard into something soft. I can almost feel the grit of the concrete against my fingertips, while my eyes are invited to roam over the subtle gradations of grey. That strip of paper with the number - 7891-70-30 - feels really intentional. A disruption. Like a thought or a memory that just won’t quit. It reminds me that art isn't just about what's in front of you, but also about the little details that make you stop and think. It is an ongoing conversation, provoking us to see and feel in new ways.