the architectural photography of hélène binet at ammann gallery

the architectural photography of hélène binet at ammann gallery
hélène binet
‘jantar mantar observatory’ in jaipur, india, 2002
digital print
W50 x H60 cm (19.7 x 23.7 inches)

hélène binet – looking at historic architecture
gallery gabrielle ammann, cologne
from september 5th to november 6th, 214

capturing the spirit of the built environment, and the ambiance it creates in its particular context through photography, is hélène binet‘s specialty. known for documenting the work of some of today’s most notable architects, including zaha hadid and peter zumthor, she is recognized for her ability to portray the true essence of her subject matter through light, shadow and texture; offering a visual balance that distinguishes the specific nuances of the structures, while revealing a renewed perspective of their existence to her audience.

rather than focussing on the contemporary builds which binet has archived, gallery gabrielle ammann presents ‘looking at historic architecture’ – a solo exhibition of the photographer, which offers a selected overview of remarkable buildings of our past – dating as far back as the ‘jantar mantar observatory’ in jaipur, india that was built between 1724 and 1734.

hélène binet
‘jantar mantar observatory’ in jaipur, india, 2002
digital print
W50 x H60 cm (19.7 x 23.7 inches)

erected under the direction of maharaja jai singh II, ‘jantar mantar observatory’ is composed of structures that each function asastronomical instruments and offer a mélange of edifices. having been conceived in accordance with planetary aspects, binet encompasses their fantastical quality of their presence, establishing the architectural landscape of the site through light and shadow.

as binet recounts from her visit:
‘the light and shadow of the observatory in jaipur is telling us the time, the seasons, predicting the monsoon but also positioning the human being in relation to very big dimension. the light and the shadow as a tool to understand the world. in the couvent sainte-marie de la tourette, light and shadow are the path to the liturgies and the only ornament in the cell of the father. they are collected in a little box, maybe a place to catch dreams.’

hélène binet
‘couvent sainte-marie de la tourette’ (architecture by le corbusier) in eveux, france, 2007
digital print
W50 x H60 cm (19.7 x 23.7 inches)

remarkable not only for its historic and scientific importance, ‘jantar mantar in jaipur’ has been sited as being highly influential to the later work of le corbusier, particularly evident in the late architect’s work at chandigarh; as well as his sacral buildings like ‘sanctuary of notre-dame-du-haut at ronchamp’ (1954), the ‘dominican monastery of sainte-marie de la tourette’ (1960), as well as his ‘church of saint-pierre in firminy-vert’ (2007).

hélène binet
‘firminy – A’ (architecture by le corbusier) in firminy, france, 2007
hand printed B/W silver gelatin
W50.8 x H61 cm (20 x 24 inches)
edition of 8 + 2 AP

natural light played a key role in le corbusier’s practice, as it does in binet’s photographic work in which she arranges glowing luminosity, and subtle gleams of  brightness, shadow and texture in a geometric way to visually enhance and animate her images; showcasing contrasts between curved and straight surfaces, further revealing the essence of the spaces she photographs.

hélène binet
‘st. eglise saint-pierre’ (architecture by le corbusier) in firminy, france, 2007
hand printed B/W silver gelatin
W50.8 x H61 cm (20 x 24 inches)
edition of 8 + 2 AP

hélène binet
‘st. anne in limehouse’ (architecture by nicholas hawksmoor) in london, UK 2013
digital B / W silver gelatin print
W120 x H153 cm (47 x 60 inches)
edition of 3 + 2 AP

in a more recent body of work, displayed at the 2012 venice architecture biennale, binet exhibits seven london churches by 18th century architect nicholas hawskmoor. the english baroque buildings are chronicled as heavily textured black and white photographs that express the interpenetrating spaces, and classic beauty of the churches, once again proving binet’s ability to manipulate light and shadow.

hélène binet
‘christ church in spitalfields’ (architecture by nicholas hawksmoor) in london, UK, 2012
hand printed B/W silver gelatin
W50,8 x H61 cm