The hidden tales in a table tableau

January 6, 2003

I am fascinated by human-created spaces devoid of human presence. The emptiness of the space lets me concentrate on its details. More important, it offers a stage on which I can project stories. When I photograph a space like this one at the J. Paul Getty Center in Los Angeles, I look for clues to create my narrative. The table at the back, for instance, has three chairs around it. It speaks to me of an intimate moment, lovers seeking privacy, perhaps, or business people hatching a plot against a competitor. Their interaction is urgent, portentous. I know that the people at that table disguise their gestures with the code of banality. The chairs, left in perfect order, attempt to erase any trace of their encounter.

The bigger array of chairs under the umbrella on the right tells a different story. Here is a scene of undisguised banality. The table is not quite under the umbrella; I imagine young people in tank tops and dark glasses, soaking up the sun. No portentous conversation here. They were taking in the scene, projecting their cool.

And the other tables? I'll leave some of the fun to you. What stories do you see?