the architecture of zaha hadid captured by hélène binet

the architecture of zaha hadid captured by hélène binet ‘maxxi’ (architecture by zaha hadid), 2006 © hélène binet edition: 3 + 2 AP digital c-type print 100 x 127 cm courtesy of gabrielle ammann // gallery, cologne

hélène binet ‘forming | portrait – architecture of zaha hadid’ gabrielle ammann // gallery, cologne september 21 – november 5, 2010

the gabrielle ammann // gallery in cologne, germany presents the solo-exhibition of photographer hélène binet entitled, ‘forming | portrait – architecture of zaha hadid’. for the last twenty years, the swiss artist has captured the works of contemporary architects including: david chipperfield, coop himmelblau, daniel libeskind, sauerbruch hutton and peter zumthor.

one of the first architects whose work binet shot was zaha hadid in the mid-1980s. ever since then, they have shared an unspoken agreement that the photographer will document both the finished building as well as the project during construction. in ‘forming | portrait’, images taken during these two distinct stages are presented: unfinished buildings are seen as fascinating portraits, while the formulas, lines, and volumes of completed buildings are examined. all these elements become a framework for binet in creating a photographic narrative–the making of forms and their portrait.

‘maxxi diptych’ (architecture by zaha hadid), 2009 © hélène binet edition: 3 + 2 AP digital b/w silver gelatin print 100 x 127 cm / 127 x 100 cm courtesy of gabrielle ammann // gallery, cologne

hélène binet on forming: ‘my interest in working sites is linked to an investigation of what is behind the extravagant forms and perfect lines of hadid’s architecture; it is an interest in the relation between the elegance of her gesture and her radical way of making a building. something very primordial and out of time is present in those situations. I think of this as a process of forming.’

‘zaragoza bridge pavilion’ (architecture by zaha hadid), 2008 © hélène binet edition: 5 + 2 AP digital b/w silver gelatin print 80 x 102 cm courtesy of gabrielle ammann // gallery, cologne

hélène binet on portraits: ‘on the other end of this process, there are the finished forms which I sometimes portray at night with sporadic illumination. the obscurity isolates them and the light accentuates their volumes. my focus is on creating images of the buildings which have a sense of being unreal and that have a certain autonomy. small and big parts of the building can now stand on their own and become independent characters.’

‘phaeno science center’ (architecture by zaha hadid), 2004 © hélène binet edition: 3 + 2 AP digital c-type print 127 x 100 cm courtesy of gabrielle ammann // gallery, cologne

‘phaeno science center diptych’ (architecture by zaha hadid), 2003/04 © hélène binet edition: 3 + 2 AP digital c-type printand digital b/w silver gelatin print 100 x 127 cm each courtesy of gabrielle ammann // gallery, cologne

‘rosenthal center for contemporary art’ (architecture by zaha hadid), 2003 © hélène binet edition: 5 + 2 AP digital b/w silver gelatin print 80 x 102 cm courtesy of gabrielle ammann // gallery, cologne

‘lfone’ (architecture by zaha hadid), 1999 © hélène binet edition: 5 + 2 AP digital b/w silver gelatin print 80 x 102 cm courtesy of gabrielle ammann // gallery, cologne

‘car park & terminus, strasbourg 1’ (architecture by zaha hadid), 2002 © hélène binet edition: 3 + 2 AP digital c-type print 150 x 120 cm courtesy of gabrielle ammann // gallery, cologne

‘car park & terminus, strasbourg 2’ (architecture by zaha hadid), 2002 © hélène binet edition: 5 + 2 AP digital b/w silver gelatin print 80 x 102 cm courtesy of gabrielle ammann // gallery, cologne