Hannah Rosales Reviews Anthony Goicolea

First Generation Cuban American artist Anthony Goicolea, explores the environment in much of his work through a dream like and surreal form. "In recent series, many of the images are devoid of humans, although the landscape reflects an anonymous and increasingly tenuous human presence." I find it very interesting that his work has this powerful effect.

In this particular exhibition called "Almost Safe," Goicolea seems to explore the idea of the industrialized society being destroyed by humans. The title "Almost Safe" alludes to the idea that the buildings and structures in some of these photographs were closed to being saved or could have been saved. 

One particular photograph that seems to stand out among the rest in the exhibition is "Sky Lift." This photograph depicts what appears to be pollution in the air and the sky lift is headed straight towards it. Another photograph in the exhibition depicts de construction. This photograph is similar in concept. (Industrialized society being destroyed by humans).

My personal metaphorical interpretation from this piece is that a lot of times we as people see that we are headed for destruction and we try to look for a way out. To me the pollution represents danger or destruction, and the sky lift represents an escape. Although a lot of times, that escape (depending on what it is), can only offer safety for a short awhile or it offers safety, but ultimately fails. The idea that the sky lift provided an "almost safe" route, shows that the the pollution overtook it.