Eric Kim's Chicago Visual Analysis

Eric Kim’s Chicago, 2013 is a collection of psychological feelings that have been captured in one instance of time. Initially giving the image of a busy working man, the subject featured in this picture is a model of the average working man. Taking a look at the surroundings, the businessman’s true mentality begins to peak. This man is exhausted, stressed, and lonely. Despite all of these characteristics, this picture still gives encouragement and inspiration in an unusual way, which is what the author, Kim, intended. This picture is more than a reflection through a window, but a reflection of this man’s life which revolves around his tiring job. The picture shows that even through exhaustion and loneliness, hope can always be found if searched
for hard enough.
The subject shows true exhaustion.
Exhaustion can first be seen in the expression the man is wearing on his face. His eyes are focused and he has a dead stare looking ahead. Exhaustion is exhibited through the man’s attire as well. The man, who is wearing a suit and appears to be on a break from work, gives an image that everyone who has had a job can relate to. Work can be exhausting. The man’s tie is blown over his shoulder, and the man has seemed to just leave the positioning untouched and just continued eating his food. His tie is crooked, he is wearing a suit, and he isn’t talking to anyone, suggesting that maybe he is on break from work and is eating in a rush. The man’s attire suggests that he is on a lunch break from work, which could explain his rush to eat his food, and his stressed appearance. This anonymous work man has a gray, receding hairline, indicating the amount of stress this man is under. There is a sign that is featured above the man’s head advertising the restaurant's food, but the only visible words in the sign read “Ya gotta get it”, which could resemble the man’s workplace the constant push on the man for more. His dead, outlooking stare looks as if he sees someone outside the store he is in, or that he is waiting for someone to arrive and join
him.
This gray-haired, fatigued entrepreneur also creates the sense of loneliness. There are many key factors that help demonstrate this illusion. The man is sitting all by himself, with no person to be seen nearby in the picture. The man shows a sense of depression. The man isn’t talking to anyone, and even his stare out of the window of the restaurant that he is eating at, appears to be directly looking at a dead tree outside. The tree is dead with all of its leaves fallen off of it, which symbolizes the emptiness the man appears to be feeling. This man is staring outside as cars pass by him, suggesting that his life that is passing him by. There is a big blue strip through the picture, that’s probably a part of the window on the restaurant; blue has always, for centuries, been a synonym for sadness and depression. Although this picture automatically gives feelings of exhaustion and sadness, there is something motivating in what Kim captured.
“What I find fascinating about the origin of the word ‘inspiration’ is that it literally has to do with the breath, with the spirit— and some sort of ‘divine intervention.’ Inspiration isn’t something that lives inside of us; it is something that we must inhale from that outside, ” Kim says, suggesting that by closer looks at the same items/surroundings that gave the appeal of gloom and fatigue, we can find the inspiration that can start the spark inside.
Kim’s photograph of this man, although creating a sense of gloom and exhaustion, gives strength and encouragement. The initial thoughts of this picture include thoughts of depression and fatigue, but this picture was taken to re-inspire the people who have felt this same exact way. The title of series of photographs that this picture belongs in is an “assignment to re-energize and re-inspire.” The man’s facial expression may look tired and angry, but it also looks determined. This man could be determined to finish his food while on break from work, to get back to work, or just to finish the food in general. The same sign above the man’s head reading “Ya gotta get it” that could be taken as a stress trigger, could also be interpreted as motivation for the man to get through the rest of the day, a sense of desire to want more and work harder. The sign could be the whole reason that the man chose to eat at that particular restaurant. There are also many empty spaces that are visible in the reflection across the street. These
continuous look upon the empty rooms symbolize the endless possibilities that could be ahead of the man if he continues to keep on his track of hard work. He could be imagining if he bought the rooms, for business or if he’s just looking for a new house and a fresh start.
Eric Kim captures many different feelings that the average working man experiences throughout their work experience, something that everyone can relate to. There are signs of anger, frustration, stress, exhaustion, but ultimately there is encouragement to just keep going and that better things are coming. These are things that every person notices in their life, and this picture is a reflection of this man’s particular life.