monolithic skyscrapers take over manuel alvarez diestro's new photo series

Alvarez Diestro’s Monoliths Explores Skyscraper Landscapes

Spanish photographer Manuel Alvarez Diestro explores skyscraper landscapes in his latest photography series Monoliths. The visual artist reconsiders the concept of skyscrapers through photography, crafting a surreal and enigmatic photo series where towering monoliths dominate the landscape. Known for capturing the construction of new cities worldwide, Alvarez Diestro focuses solely on vertical structures for this series. Instead of showcasing their architectural details, he integrates them into their surroundings, creating dreamlike scenes.

all images by Manuel Alvarez Diestro

Monoliths photo series takes cues from ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’

Inspired by Kubrick’s ‘2001: A Space Odyssey,’ Alvarez Diestro draws parallels between the towering structures he encounters in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East and the enigmatic black monolith from the film. Like the monolith, his photographs depict the vertical structures as imposing and mysterious entities, seemingly disconnected from the world. The images are presented in sequential order, depicting the towers rising from the ground in epic proportions, blending harmoniously with the landscape, and ultimately dominating the viewer with their nightmarish allure. With this series, Manuel Alvarez Diestro moves beyond documentary photography, crafting cinematic visuals.

tower blocks in Hong Kong, China

three skyscrapers in Dubai, UAE

zig-zag tower in Doha, Qatar

Intempo skyscraper in Benidorm, Spain

construction of skyscraper in East London, UK

vertical structure against South Korea’s landscape

85 Sky Tower in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

tallest skyscraper in Croydon, London

Vallecas 20, known as The Black Tower in Madrid, Spain

China 117 Tower in Tianjin, China

isolated bridge pillar in Seoul, South Korea

project info:

name: Monoliths

photographer: Manuel Alvarez Diestro | @m.a.diestro

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom