The Things Not Seen are Eternal

Dyal returned to Riverside Baptist Church after over 50 years to document its interior and many rooms and spaces which are no longer in use, with his painterly photographs devoid of people but heavy with the echoes of past human presence. His background as an architect is evident in his portrayal of the building, its details, and negative space. The images are representative of a wider pattern of diminishing church attendance across the US.

Format: Hardback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 03 April 2023
Publisher: GOST Books

In 2021, Dyal found himself passing by Riverside Baptist Church on a weekday afternoon, a place he hadn't set foot in over 50 years. To his surprise, he noticed an open door and decided to enter, eager to explore the interior and document the many rooms and spaces that had been abandoned and slowly deteriorating. With no electricity and a sense of melancholy, Dyal began to visit the church regularly, capturing its empty rooms and fading grandeur through his painterly photographs. While his images lack human presence, they are filled with the echoes of past human activity—chairs, toys, robes, furniture, artificial flowers, and books—relics of a bygone era. Dyal's background as an architect shines through in his portrayal of the building's intricate details and negative space. The multiple doorways guide the viewer through the book, and the objects in the photographs often appear as sculptural inventions. At the end of the book, a series of archival black and white photographs offer a contrast to the present-day desolation, showcasing the church in its prime. While this story is specific to one church, it reflects a broader pattern of diminishing church attendance across the United States. Dyal's photographs serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of these sacred spaces and the role they once played in communities.

Dimension: 310 x 245 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781910401873