Design
The Psychology of Ruin Porn
Why we can't take our eyes off images of old buildings and decrepit interiors
It's the sort of image, imbued with loss and layers, that architecture buffs drool over. A wheelchair sits center stage, its orange vinyl back echoed by a round tabletop that leans against a wall, painted in a familiar shade of institutional green. A mattress, flattened and grimy, lies tossed onto a floor that's littered with fallen plaster. In the foreground, an overturned metal trashcan speaks volumes. A mirror reflects the whole sad scene.
It's romantic, it's nostalgic, it's wistful, it's provocative. It's about time, nature, mortality, disinvestment.