Barbican- Constructing Worlds
On the 3rd of November 2014, we visited the Barbican exhibition Constructing Worlds. The exhibition focused on the way photographers from the 1930's up until present day changed our perception of architecture around the world.
Featured photographers include: |
I found this exhibition intriguing and gripping as there was a variety of photographs and styles within each room or section. I thought that the post-war californian photos showed a vibrant take on architecture despite following the disaster of the war. I also found the size of some of the images incredible and thought that the size enhanced the colours and made it easier for the viewer to pay attention to detail within the photo. My personal favourite photographer from the exhibition that really stood out was Luigi Ghirri. This is because he contrasts urban and nature affectively within his Cemetery of San Cataldo, Modena, 1983. Also, within his Cimitero di Modena, the central focus appears to be the tree but the orange and pinkish tones on the building in the background distracts the eye.
Exhibition Notes
Walker Evans
The Breakfast Room, Belle Grove Plantation, White Chapel, Louisiana, 1935
-Belle Grove- grande sugar cane plantation mansion.
-Crumbling walls show collapse of trade.
-Empty room, desolate, isolation
-Mostly white tones, not many black except in corners of the room
-Large depth of field means small aperture
The Breakfast Room, Belle Grove Plantation, White Chapel, Louisiana, 1935
-Belle Grove- grande sugar cane plantation mansion.
-Crumbling walls show collapse of trade.
-Empty room, desolate, isolation
-Mostly white tones, not many black except in corners of the room
-Large depth of field means small aperture
Berenice Abbot
Court of the First Model Tenements in New York City
March 16, 1936
-New York end of 19th century.
-Abstractions of line, many crossing over reflects almost a sense of many paths to take, lots of routes for immigration within New York?
-Photo represents growing number of immigrants, shown through overcrowdedness of clothes.
-Pole in the centre could be a symbol or representation of New York, holds all the lines and clothes together yet can only manage so much?
-Contrast can be identified where there are so many clothes hanging on the lines, yet nobody is present within the photo. This could show a lack of civilisation?
Court of the First Model Tenements in New York City
March 16, 1936
-New York end of 19th century.
-Abstractions of line, many crossing over reflects almost a sense of many paths to take, lots of routes for immigration within New York?
-Photo represents growing number of immigrants, shown through overcrowdedness of clothes.
-Pole in the centre could be a symbol or representation of New York, holds all the lines and clothes together yet can only manage so much?
-Contrast can be identified where there are so many clothes hanging on the lines, yet nobody is present within the photo. This could show a lack of civilisation?
Luigi Ghirri
Cimitero di Modena, 1982
-Contrasts urban building with the nature of the trees and snow.
-Use of fairly light tones.
-Central focus appears to be the tree but the bold and geometric building in the background distracts the eye.
Cimitero di Modena, 1982
-Contrasts urban building with the nature of the trees and snow.
-Use of fairly light tones.
-Central focus appears to be the tree but the bold and geometric building in the background distracts the eye.
Luisa Lambri
Untitled (Darwin D. Martin House #06) 2007
-Mostly dark with the only contrast being the light strip through the centre
-The central focus is clearly the centre due to the change in tone and the brown/mahogany colours surrounding the central light patch.
-Abstract/obscured subject. Becomes clearer with inspection and revealed when look at other photos within the series.
-Fairly monotone, however black, brown and white are used there is definitely a limited sense of tone.
Untitled (Darwin D. Martin House #06) 2007
-Mostly dark with the only contrast being the light strip through the centre
-The central focus is clearly the centre due to the change in tone and the brown/mahogany colours surrounding the central light patch.
-Abstract/obscured subject. Becomes clearer with inspection and revealed when look at other photos within the series.
-Fairly monotone, however black, brown and white are used there is definitely a limited sense of tone.
My Photo Documentation
Before and after the exhibition, we had time to explore and take photos of and around the Barbican. Taking note of the exhibition, I payed close attention to the architecture and the different ways I could capture the interesting buildings surrounding the Barbican. I found that due to how the structures had been built, there were many geometric and straight lines to capture which links well to the work of Lewis Baltz.
Edited Photos
After capturing the photos, I chose a few to edit which I thought would really enhance the structure and lines of the buildings. I edited the photos into black and white as under influence of Lewis Baltz. Also as I have explained in my artist statement, I enjoy focusing on the architecture and particularly how black & white can bring out the contrast from the buildings as well as the surrounding light. |