Gold in the morning (A - J) 1985

Alfredo Jaar made this grid of photographic images, *Gold in the morning (A - J)*, sometime in his career – and right away I am struck by the colour palette, the warm earthy browns and muted tones that feel both immediate and somehow distant. It's like he's not just showing us something, but inviting us into a process, a way of seeing. The photographs, arranged together, speak to the weight of the earth and the human form. Look closely and you'll see the almost sculptural quality of the surfaces: the texture of the ground, the way the light catches on the worker's skin, the bags on their backs. Then I notice the way the mud cakes onto their bodies and clothes, obscuring detail and contour. This process of obscuring and revealing is at the heart of the piece, both formally and conceptually. Jaar reminds me of someone like LaToya Ruby Frazier, who also tackles complex social issues with a keen eye for form and a deep sense of empathy. Art becomes a space for conversation, for asking questions rather than providing easy answers.