The Fire this Time

An architect interested in ephemeral structures, a photographer who has grown increasingly suspicious of pictures, Jaar’s most telling gesture is to relinquish the camera by placing it, figuratively and sometimes literally, in the public’s hands. In other words, Jaar is a master of indirection. And no wonder. His work was shaped at the outset by the need to speak clearly and forcefully against murderous injustice, using language of the most lucid obliquity. Jaar’s work declares that daring to connect and participate is our last, best hope.