Derek Bjorkman, Perkins School 1992

Curator: Nicholas Nixon's gelatin silver print, "Derek Bjorkman, Perkins School," presents a young man at a piano. There is a palpable sense of introversion evoked in this intimate portrait. Editor: The stark tonality emphasizes the subject's downward gaze and the tactile quality of the keys. The composition is quite arresting, with the piano acting as a frame within a frame. Curator: Nixon's work often documents individuals in specific social contexts, revealing the institutional landscape of care and education through the lens of portraiture. Editor: Indeed, and it's within these social contexts that we can view Nixon’s deliberate, almost clinical approach to composition and his manipulation of light and shadow to underscore the emotional weight of the moment. Curator: The flatness of the print serves to amplify the textures, particularly the stark contrast between the boy’s patterned shirt and the sleek piano surface. It's almost a study in material contrasts. Editor: Seeing this, I wonder about the role of institutions in shaping individual narratives and experiences. Curator: And I find myself contemplating the very act of seeing, and the choices Nixon made. Editor: Well, it’s certainly left a lasting impression on me.