The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are not only the largest port complex in the United States but also the busiest port in all of North and South America. Each year, they handle over 15 million cargo containers, which translates to over $300 billion worth of goods. The sheer scale of these operations is difficult to comprehend, with towering cranes that can lift and move cargo containers weighing over 100,000 pounds with ease and giant cargo ships the size of multiple football fields. Each day, these colossal ships arrive from all corners of the world, bringing with them an endless stream of commodities. The operations in these ports are simply massive, dwarfing the workers and machinery that move the containers from ship to shore. The spectacle of these daily operations is both fascinating and concerning. On the one hand, the scale of the commerce, the efficiency and speed with which cargo is moved in and out of these ports, and the technological innovation that enables it are captivating. On the other hand, the environmental and social consequences of the globalized supply chains that these ports support are enormous. They are a testament to an architecture of power that exploits cheap labor forces in distant countries in order to feed affordable goods to the world’s largest consumer society. The video “Intermodal” provides a minimalist portrayal of this critical yet awe-inspiring spectacle. Through its static shots of cargo ships being loaded and unloaded, the video highlights the overwhelming sense of anxiety that these operations can produce, while also inviting viewers to contemplate their complicity in a system that values profit margins, speed and efficiency over people and the planet.

Accompanying the video is a series of photographic objects using the salted paper printing process. This 19th century technique adds a historic dimension to an installation that shows a system rooted in centuries of forceful colonial expansion. The salt water used for sensitizing these prints was collected directly from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, embedding the material essence of the site into each image. While the video component of Intermodal offers a close-up view of the operations of the ports and intermodal freight system, the photographs shift perspective by capturing industrial marine traffic hovering on the horizon of serene seascapes. This contrast between proximity and distance highlights the vast scale of global shipping networks and their omnipresence in everyday life. The pollution of the collected water leaves faint traces on the prints, producing subtle chemical reactions that extend beyond the intended photographic exposure. These material disruptions form an indexical connection to the site, making visible the ecological impact of industrial logistics. By integrating these prints into the installation, the work bridges photographic representation and direct material presence, further challenging how infrastructures of commerce and trade are seen, experienced, and understood.