Richard Misrach, American, born 1949
Ashland Belle Helene Plantation, Acquired by Shell Chemical, 1998
This photograph is part of a larger body of work that Misrach created for the High Museum of Art in Atlanta’s “Picturing the South” series. Misrach decided to focus on Cancer Alley, a stretch of land in Louisiana where industrial plants are devastating the health of the communities they surround. This particular photograph is striking because it depicts a large white plantation mansion, a symbol heavily associated with the South. The fact that it was taken over by Shell Corporation serves as a symbol of the continued oppression and abuse of Black people in the name of capitalism. This series serves as a method of communication: in Misrach’s own words, “It’s hard for art to really solve problems but I’ve come to believe that art is a really important way of communicating, not only with current generations, but with future generations.” Label by Laura Reitze