Omen — Phantasmagoria at the Farm Security Administration Archive. 1935–1944. Published by RM & Gato Negro Ediciones.
The black-and-white archival re-contextualization project is a bit of a trope, and yet Omen stands out to me. It captures some of my anxiety and frustration felt as we repeat the mistakes of the past. It’s a strange time to live in the US—one that feels increasingly defined by excess, fear, wealth gaps, and poor decisions—and the force behind Omen is how it captures some of the longstanding hypocrisies through the outsider perspectives of León Muñoz Santini and Jorge Panchoaga (both Mexican artists). The result is a vibe-heavy, grain-y publication that I hope can serve as a tool for self-reflection as we continue to re-write this country’s history.
Owen Kobasz edits the blog & newsletter at photo-eye. He holds a BA in the liberal arts from St. John's College, is currently enrolled in a computer science master’s program at the University of Pennsylvania, and likes to build and ride bikes in his free time.
Instagram: @owenkobasz