#09639 Amparo Segarra

Here we see a composite work, seemingly a collage or assemblage, that juxtaposes disparate elements to create a layered and unsettling narrative. The central visual field is dominated by a photograph depicting what appears to be agricultural labor – figures engaged in repetitive tasks on an expansive, reddish-brown landscape. They wield tools, buckets are scattered around, suggesting arduous toil under harsh conditions. This scene is rendered in muted tones, contributing to a sense of bleakness and monotony.
Framing this central image are fragments of other materials – primarily what appear to be printed labels or packaging from consumer goods, densely clustered on the right side and partially obscuring the lower left corner. These labels feature recognizable branding elements, suggesting an association with industry and commerce. The figure positioned alongside the agricultural scene is a cropped portrait of a man, his body seemingly emerging from the chaotic arrangement of labels. His posture conveys vulnerability or exposure, further emphasizing the contrast between human labor and the impersonal forces represented by the commercial imagery.
The color palette reinforces the thematic tensions. The warm, earthy tones of the landscape are offset by the cooler, more artificial colors present in the printed materials. This creates a visual discordance that mirrors the underlying conceptual conflict – the exploitation of labor within a system driven by consumerism and industrial production.
The composition’s structure directs the viewers eye across these contrasting elements, prompting reflection on themes of work, consumption, and perhaps even alienation. The deliberate fragmentation and layering suggest a critique of societal structures where human effort is commodified and obscured by branding and mass-produced goods. The overall effect is one of disquietude, inviting contemplation about the relationship between individual labor and the larger economic forces that shape our world.