Seascape: North Atlantic Ocean, Cape Breton 1996

Editor: We’re looking at Hiroshi Sugimoto's "Seascape: North Atlantic Ocean, Cape Breton" from 1996, a gelatin-silver print. The image is incredibly serene; almost meditative. It's basically a horizontal line dividing the gray sky from the gray sea. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a radical proposition. Sugimoto asks us to consider the constructed nature of landscape itself, specifically in relationship to power, historical narrative, and the male gaze. Isn’t it fascinating how such seemingly simple imagery carries so much cultural weight? Where does the perceived neutrality of the sea intersect with histories of exploration, colonialism, and environmental exploitation? Editor: So, you’re suggesting this seemingly neutral image might not be neutral at all? Curator: Exactly! Consider that Sugimoto repeatedly photographs seascapes around the world. Are these documentations or interventions? In flattening the perspective, is he challenging our conventional ways of seeing the landscape – reminding us that perception is never objective? Editor: It’s interesting that you bring up colonialism. Could this be about reclaiming the narrative and giving back power? Curator: It certainly prompts us to rethink how we perceive the vastness of the sea and what we've historically projected onto it. Consider how it interacts with feminist perspectives in deconstructing notions of femininity associated with nature. Editor: Wow, I never thought about it that way. It definitely shifts my perspective. Curator: That's the beauty of engaging with art; seeing the multiple layers of meaning embedded within even the most seemingly simple images. Hopefully it will enable viewers to seek more inclusive conversations within artistic discourse.