Art Analysis: A Defining Moment of Crisis

Art Analysis: A Defining Moment of Crisis

Introduction

The photograph which we will analyze today immortalizes the story of a young Asian man, focusing on his image primarily while everything else except the chain link fence blurs into the background. The chain link fence in the foreground symbolizes his “isolation” from the rest of the world and his half mast eyes tell a story of longing and depression. This picture will make any viewer wonder whether the isolation of the man is forced and literal or by choice and therefore emotional. Is it self-imposed and a result of withdrawal from the world into grief, or is it because of the actions or attitudes of the people around him that has caused this. The composition of the picture clearly shows that separation between the man and the world “out there,” and the fading chain link fence which seems to continue on till the horizon is a symbol of the never ending segregation that the man has faced and more so is bound to face for the rest of his life, doomed to be a mere “voyeur” and never a participator in whatever unknown activity is going on beyond the picture.

Analysis

“Mikul”

The person captured in this photo is named Maltz, in short for Mikul. He has had a long history of fighting depression due to various issues in his life, being born in a poverty stricken and violent neighborhood, his mother being diagnosed with Schizophrenia early in her life, his social disadvantage due to receiving low education, and lastly, his girlfriend leaving him for “greener pastures.” The World Federation for Mental Health lists most of these symptoms as leading causes for depression in the world, and moreover, they have termed depression as a “global crisis” which has stricken almost three hundred and fifty people today (WFMH, 2012). This means that nowadays, numerous people have started falling victim to depression which then manifests in many forms, affecting not only them, but their family, peers and the overall society as well.

Depression is considered a common and everyday illness which is symbolized by distress, loss of energy, the inability to take pleasure in the world, viewing oneself as “not being worth it,” which also manifests in physical symptoms such as loss of sleep and appetite and lower concentration levels, as well as anxiety. It can be both chronic and well as recurrent, often leading to suicide at its pinnacle. What this photo does not tell is that more than one million people are driven to suicide every year due to depression, meaning that every single day almost three thousand people lose their lives, and more than twenty people make a suicide attempt daily (WHO, 2012).

The mood of Mikul's distress is largely obvious due to his facial expressions. However, upon closer scrutiny, the vague outline of his right hand gripping the chain link fence tells its own story. It seems to say that Mikul wants something that is just across the fence, ...