Brutalist Diptych

Playground: During each holiday season, I went ice skating in downtown San Francisco. I skated in circles next to a giant mysterious brutalist piece. I drank hot cocoa and tried to do spins next to this amazing sculpture. Brutalist photography is usually grayscale or shot in a muted color palette. I remember this piece of art fondly. I wanted to reveal the joy it has brought me in the past, so I challenged the status quo and made the photos neon, using Lightroom. The sculpture hangs into the frame. I used to catch it out of the corner of my eye in a similar manner. This series demonstrates that brutalist pieces can be seen in a playful way. 

Fort: I used to buy Christmas trees at Fort Mason, and though the architecture isn’t overtly brutalist, I think the contrast between the frivolous editing in Lightroom and a building constructed solely with purpose in mind is unique, revealing my relationship with this structure. The building is strong, symmetrical, and balanced, but its perception is skewed; some see it as drab and dirty, while I see a whimsical example of architecture full of my memories. I framed the photo in an unbalanced manner to reflect the contrast. This typically drab place has brought me nothing but joy every holiday season; I hope that others view the building in such a positive light. 

2020, 15x7 ft. Diptych, Photography