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Intersections

John Baldessari's Intersections series is a compelling exploration of juxtaposition, narrative, and the manipulation of photographic imagery. This series, developed in the early 2000s, exemplifies Baldessari's innovative approach to conceptual art through the combination of found imagery, digital prints, and acrylic painting. Works such as "Junction Series: Landscape Seascape, Duelling Figures and Ballerinas" (2002) and "Junction Series: Seascape, Landspace, Woman, and Giraffe (Captured)" (2002) showcase Baldessari's method of layering digital photographic prints with acrylic paint, creating complex visual narratives that challenge traditional perceptions of space and reality​ (Sprüth Magers)​.


One piece that stands out in the series is "The Intersection Series: Children Eating Watermelon/High Rise Building" (2001), featured in The Broad Collection. This work, like others in the series, combines digital photographic prints with acrylic on Sintra board, illustrating Baldessari's fascination with the interplay between different elements of the urban landscape and everyday scenes​ (The Broad)​.

Baldessari's work in the Intersections series often incorporates a sense of humor and irony, using the juxtaposition of unrelated images to provoke thought and reinterpretation of familiar scenes. His technique of overlaying and integrating images allows for a reimagining of narrative and space, creating a unique dialogue between the viewer and the work. The series is a testament to Baldessari's lifelong commitment to pushing the boundaries of conceptual art, blending photography, painting, and digital media to explore new dimensions of visual storytelling.


Through the Intersections series, Baldessari continues to influence contemporary art discourse, demonstrating the power of image manipulation and the construction of new meanings from disparate elements. His work remains a critical exploration of the visual language of art and its capacity to challenge and expand our understanding of the world around us.