fernando alda captures the vanishing moments of architecture under construction

fernando alda’s photo essay entitled ‘the aesthetic of vanishing’ was exhibited at the ventura arquitectos pavilion during the expo modii 2018 in panama city. the architectural photography series aims to let the viewer question not only the notion of present time, but of real moment. ‘the aesthetic of vanishing’ is alda’s presentation of the aesthetic value to be discovered in practical purposes, in this case, in the everyday reality of the architecture under construction. 

all images by fernando alda

fernando alda takes conceptual precedent from french aesthetic philosopher paul virilio. at panama’s expo modii 2018, the photographer presents his exploration of the notion that these captured moments are periods of a dissolution of reality — moments which we have invented and which temporarily replace true reality. each individual has a different relationship with time and space. the photographer freezes a moment, offering the viewer a chance to spin a new story and rescuing those moments that are part of a dialectic of the architectural work.

alda and colleague silvia escamilla explain further: 
’peeping through a peephole to the constructive process, it ratifies, as proust would, the sophist idea of the appar, the instantaneity of the possible entry into another logic, dissolving the concepts of truth and illusion, reality and appearance… the moment opportune, the occasion. that fleeting moment in which appears, metaphorically speaking, an opening. the precise place that must necessarily be crossed to achieve its objective: to move us and make us question not only the notion of present time, but, and above all, of real moment.‘

excamilla continues: ‘
in this photographic series, it is plausible that for fernando alda photography is not a mere instrument of communication but a work of art and, once again, plays with it by diverting the original content to adopt another.‘