foam magazine #18 / displaced On My Mind...
Charles, Vasa, Minnesota, 2002 © Alec Soth
Yossi Milo In 2002 I received a very special, self-published copy of the book Sleeping by the Mississippi from Alec Soth. As I flipped through the pages, the portraits – such as Crystal, Patrick, Lenny and Sunshine – were especially resonant for me. Among all of the portraits, however, Charles, Vasa, Minnesota, 2002, stands out as one of the most iconic and enigmatic images from the series, and it has stayed on my mind throughout the past few years. The ambiguity of the location, of who this person is, and what exactly is going on has been an endless source of curiosity for me. Where is Charles standing in relation to his house? Why is he dressed like an aviator or a mechanic? Even Charles’ mood is unclear, as his expression is obscured by a wooly beard and the reflection in his glasses.
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This photograph also raises questions about the extent of Alec’s involvement with the composition and with the scene. Did the situation happen naturally, or was Charles directed to hold the planes to form a perfectly composed and dynamic photograph? That these questions remain unanswered is what makes Charles such a powerful image. + Yossi Milo is the owner of Yossi Milo Gallery in New York City. The gallery specializes in contemporary photography and works on paper.