The wall #5 2010

This photograph is by the late Abbas Kiarostami, celebrated Iranian filmmaker and photographer. I love how the image shows us the raw texture of a wall, and the process of aging and decay. There’s a palpable sense of time here, and Kiarostami captures this through the layering of color and surface, from the faded ochre and browns to the dark stains, and the exposed brickwork at the bottom, giving the wall a history. The surface is far from flat, but uneven and broken, with parts of the wall that have been worn away or patched up, making it a tapestry of different textures and tones. Look how the paint is thin and transparent at the top and becomes more opaque as it moves down the frame. The tiny window in the middle looks almost like an afterthought, yet it’s perfectly placed, a reminder of the life that exists behind this weathered surface. Thinking about other artists who celebrate the everyday, the mundane, like Chantal Ackerman maybe, but here with a stillness that allows us to reflect on the beauty of imperfection.