Helen Petrovsky Analyzes Boris Mikhailov's Photography and Roland Barthes in ARTMargins Online

Helen Petrovsky, based in Ithaca, New York, contributed an article to ARTMargins Online in June 2005. The piece examines the metaphysics of photography through the lens of Boris Mikhailov's retrospective exhibition. That show was held at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, from September 22, 2004, to January 2, 2005. Petrovsky argues for a fundamental redefinition of photography's theoretical foundations. She posits that the medium's essence is now defined by anonymity rather than personal authorship. This represents a radical departure from earlier philosophical projects, specifically referencing Roland Barthes's work. Barthes had focused on redeeming the personal photograph against time and historical narratives. In contrast, Petrovsky suggests the contemporary theoretical object is a 'nobody's' or 'whatever' photograph. The article serves as a critical review connecting Mikhailov's artistic practice to broader shifts in photographic theory.