‘Site Unseen' is an exhibition that questions the way we view architecture. What if, instead of photographing architecture as an object, we look at it as a subject, asks Tom Ross, a photographer himself, who curated the new exhibition that's currently open at the Center of Contemporary Photography (CCP) in Melbourne. Part of the city's Open House Melbourne programme (30-31 July 2022), the show brings together the work of a mix of global architectural photographers who together explore different ways of viewing, experiencing and documenting architecture through the photographic lens.
The pieces on display are extremely varied, created by artists including Rory Gardiner, John Gollings, Coco and Maximilian, Erieta Attali, Annika Kafcaloudis, Mengzhu Jiang, Veeral Patel, Gavin Green, Morgan Hickinbotham, Brooke Holm, Ben Hosking, Pier Carthew, Shannon McGrath, Tom Ross, Ying Ang, and Rohan Hutchinson. ‘In a time when architecture representation is being narrowed to imagery of persuasion, this exhibition serves as a reminder of the sincere exchange between people and the built environment,' says Ross.
‘Site Unseen’ at CCP Melbourne
Installation view of ‘Site Unseen’.
Bringing together diversity in treatments, topics, a range of emotions, as well as work methods, the exhibition fascinates in its richness and unexpected views of our built environment, exploring familiar buildings (such as the Australian Islamic Center of Newport by Glenn Murcutt & Elevli Plus) in a new light. At the same time, seemingly anonymous corners of our urban realm come to life and are celebrated, put centre stage through the gaze of photographers.
‘Experienced largely on a subconscious level, architecture can contribute to moments of harmony and moments of friction in our every day. This exhibition calls for a moment of pause, to examine the built environment and our interaction with it through the lens’ of this incredibly talented cohort of photographers,' says the newly appointed director of CCP, Daniel Boetker-Smith.
‘Site Unseen' will be on until the end of July, across all four galleries at Melbourne's CCP. All works are available to purchase.
Annika Kafcaloudis, Building Site 01 2022
Brooke Holm, Judd II 2020
Pier Carthew, Tin Alley from the series Melbourne Uni 2022
Rohan Hutchinson Kamikawa Subprefecture Series Untitled 5
Rory Gardiner, Al Jaddaf 11 2022
Ying Ang, Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast 2013
Veeral Patel, Australian Islamic Center of Newport by Glenn Murcutt & Elevli Plus 2022
Morgan Hickinbotham, Practicalities in Architecture I, 2022
Tom Ross, Birrarung 2021, Untitled 1
John Gollings, Corrigan Edmond, Kay St Carlton Housing 1983
Coco Maximilian, Phoenix
Mengzhu Jiang, Osaka University of Arts 2019
Erieta Attali Bernard Tschumi Architects, The New Acropolis Museum, Athens,Greece
BenHosking, When Skin Has Eyes, Untitled VI, 2018
INFORMATION
-
Vestre’s neo-brutalist furniture will bring ‘a little madness’ to Paris Fashion WeekBound for Paris Men’s Fashion Week this month, Norwegian furniture brand Vestre reveals a sculptural bench and mirror created with designer Vincent Laine and fashion creative Willy Cartier – the latest outcome of its risk-taking ‘a little madness’ initiative
-
For its latest runway show, Zegna creates a serene oasis in DubaiThe Italian fashion house took over the Dubai Opera for a S/S 2026 show that proposed a lived-in elegance, drawing inspiration from Dubai’s sunbaked landscapes and Zegna’s birthplace of Trivero
-
Time-travel to the golden age of the cruise ship at Sea Containers LondonThe South Bank hotel celebrates its tenth anniversary with four new suites inspired by period cabin design, from Edwardian elegance to 1980s glamour
-
Edinburgh Art Festival 2023: from bog dancing to binge drinkingWhat to see at Edinburgh Art Festival 2023, championing women and queer artists, whether exploring Scottish bogland on film or casting hedonism in ceramic
-
Last chance to see: Devon Turnbull’s ‘HiFi Listening Room Dream No. 1’ at Lisson Gallery, LondonDevon Turnbull/OJAS’ handmade sound system matches minimalist aesthetics with a profound audiophonic experience – he tells us more
-
Hospital Rooms and Hauser & Wirth unite for a sensorial London exhibition and auctionHospital Rooms and Hauser & Wirth are working together to raise money for arts and mental health charities
-
‘These Americans’: Will Vogt documents the USA’s rich at playWill Vogt’s photo book ‘These Americans’ is a deep dive into a world of privilege and excess, spanning 1969 to 1996
-
Brian Eno extends his ambient realms with these environment-altering sculpturesBrian Eno exhibits his new light box sculptures in London, alongside a unique speaker and iconic works by the late American light artist Dan Flavin
-
![The Bagri Foundation Commission: Asim Waqif, वेणु [Venu], 2023. Courtesy of the artist. Photo © Jo Underhill. exterior](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QgFpUHisSVxoTW6BbkC6nS.jpg)
Asim Waqif creates dense bamboo display at the Hayward in LondonThe Bagri Foundation Commission, Asim Waqif’s वेणु [Venu], opens at the Hayward Gallery in London
-
Forrest Myers is off the wall at Catskill Art Space this summerForrest ‘Frosty’ Myers makes his mark at Catskill Art Space, NY, celebrating 50 years of his monumental Manhattan installation, The Wall
-
Jim McDowell, aka ‘the Black Potter’, on the fire behind his face jugsA former coal miner, Jim McDowell defied the odds to set up his workshop and keep a historic form of American pottery alive
![The Bagri Foundation Commission: Asim Waqif, वेणु [Venu], 2023. Courtesy of the artist. Photo © Jo Underhill. exterior](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QgFpUHisSVxoTW6BbkC6nS-800-80.jpg.webp)
