Hawaii 2009

Richard Ross took this photograph, titled "Hawaii", with a camera, obviously, and a very good eye. What strikes me first is the way the colors are muted, almost desaturated, giving the scene a sense of melancholy. The texture of the wall is rough, you can almost feel the gritty surface. It’s got that institutional green, like the color of a hospital waiting room, only fading now. And then there's the figure, slumped in a chair, head pressed against the wall. This small and solitary figure is dwarfed by the imposing architecture of the prison yard. I’m reminded of the work of Gordon Matta-Clark, who was so good at finding the beauty in decay. Ross does the same here. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be pretty or uplifting. Sometimes it's about confronting the uncomfortable truths about the world around us.