"Perhaps the most important thing to note about this haunting photograph is that it was not fabricated by the artist. The woman was a waif who had been given shelter by the caretaker of a remote ranch in Big Sur. It was a favorite site for Bullock and he had become friends with her, occasionally giving her work as a model. Earlier in the day, Bullock had been shaken by a strong premonition that she would eventually be forced to give up her son. When she put him on the bed for a nap and then moved to the edge of it, the premonition seemed to come to life before his eyes. It should also be noted that the book on the window sill that gives the photograph its title is a classic text on how to make one’s way across dark waters."
~ Chris Johnson and Barbara Bullock-Wilson
from Wynn Bullock: 55, Phaidon Press, 2001
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Navigation Without Numbers is a captivating photograph that exemplifies Wynn Bullock's deep exploration of light, space, and the metaphysical.
Mother and child are pictured in the bedroom, but the bedroom is transformed by a barren mysterious, dreamlike atmosphere. The stark contrast between the figures and the dark fabric creates a sense of isolation and introspection. Bullock emphasizes the vulnerability of the human form, while also suggesting a connection to the infinite, uncharted realms of the mind. Bullock handed us a philosophical inquiry into the nature of existence, merging the physical and the spiritual in a single, evocative image.
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