Binet’s in-depth knowledge of architectural history is manifest in the way she portrays her subject matter and her intimate understanding of each building is evident in the way she conjures up the spirit of the space through light, shadow and texture. A carefully curated selection of design pieces by Studio Nucleo and Ad hoc will complete the dialogue between art, design and architecture.
The show will feature significant landscape works by the artist in dialogue with her well-known architectural photographs. A curated selection of sculptural design pieces by Ad Hoc, Satyendra Pakhalé and Studio Nucleo will accompany the show.
Hélène Binet is a renowned photographer recognised through several awards, such as the prestigious Julius Shulman Award 2015 and the Ada Louise Huxtable Prize 2019. Her works are part of important museum collections, including the MOMA in New York and the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. Currently, Binet has a solo exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts: 'Light Lines: The Architectural Photographs of Hélène Binet' until 23rd of January 2022.
Binet's highly atmospheric natural landscape photographs highlight her profound underlying analysis of the interplay between space and form, light and shadow, material and structure. The dynamic contrast between light and dark gives the photographs an almost painterly quality. Binet's series the Atacama Desert in Chile from 2013 depicts her artistic composition of structures and lines of light within the deserts landscape. The complexity and profundity of these enigmatic images lead the viewer to immerse himself in a distant world that appears to be completely untouched by man.
The architectural photographs are characterised by a play of light and shadow, which lends the image an almost abstract quality. This interplay constructs patterns and structures in a way that leads to something completely autonomous, something that goes far beyond the boundaries of pure illustration.
Be it through her unique perspective on rough, untouched landscapes or the details of extraordinary architecture chosen with great sensitivity – Hélène Binet's photographic view reveals the essence of her respective subject. It gives expression to her heightened awareness of form, light and structure. Because of their high level of abstraction, Binet's impressions of landscapes bear witness to an all but magical mysteriousness.
Mexican artist duo Ad Hoc combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. Honouring their Mesoamerican ancestors, the artist's ROOTS series uses endemic materials such as Ixtle, made from Agave plants, and traditional techniques. Ad Hoc reflects on their national identity in a contemporary context by re-contextualising natural materials and ancient techniques.
Satyendra Pakhalé is an artist active in the fields of design, art and architecture. Being trained in India and Switzerland, his work goes beyond binaries like high-tech and low-tech, industrial production and traditional crafts, functionality and poetic significance. Pakhalé's acclaimed Bell Metal Collection, made of bronze, metal sheet and copper alloy, reflects on the impact of technology on the artisan process.
Turin based collaborative Studio Nucleo continuously explores the interface between contemporary art, design and architecture. Their primary focus is on identity, history and interlacing time frames. The monolithic Bronze Age Table is a unique piece inspired by the metal age, paying tribute to the human capacity to evolve, made entirely of sheets of metal assembled by welding. The Souvenir of the Last Century series captures antique and beloved pieces the group fi and preserves them in resin, creating a new contemporary piece.
Images:
- © Hélène Binet 'Soanes Light 01' 2019, courtesy ammann//projects
- © Hélène Binet 'Jongmyo Shrine 02' 2018, courtesy ammann//projects
