Four groups of objects explore this relationship in just a few of its many forms. A newly acquired portfolio of iconic Modernist buildings by famed architectural photographer Ezra Stoller reveals how his imagery helped shaped public perception of Modernism. A selection of photographs by Frances Benjamin Johnston of historic buildings in Charleston, SC, reflects on photography as document and form of preservation of our changing built environment; a range of photographs from the early 20th century of important sites and buildings from around the world reveal a pre-Internet desire to connect people virtually to far-flung sites and monuments. Finally, a selection of images from the museum’s photography department—including works by Richard Artschwager, Dan Graham, and W. Eugene Smith—reveal how artists have responded to architectural forms and imagery in their work.
Photography has always been an important transmitter of architectural ideas, even among its mid-19th-century early adopters. Much of what we know about buildings and sites is not personally experienced, but conveyed through photographic representations of them. However, not every photograph that includes architectural imagery can rightly be called “architectural photography.”
Although many of the Heinz Architectural Center’s exhibitions have included or featured photography, Architecture + Photography is the first to explicitly explore the two fields’ common terrain. Many of the works in the show have not been previously exhibited, affording the museum the opportunity to probe unexplored corners of its collections. Together, this intriguing selection of photographs inspires visitors to ask questions while learning about the multifaceted and complex relationship between architecture and photography.
This exhibition is organized by Tracy Myers, curator of architecture, and Alyssum Skjeie, curatorial assistant.
Architecture + Photography.
Dates.- Until May 26, 2014.
Venue.- The Heinz Architectural Center. Carnegie Museum of Art. 4400 Forbes Avenue. Pittsburgh, PA 15213. USA.
