Architectural photographer Angus Martin’s latest exhibition explores the visual language of photography in contemporary architecture to remind us that architectural spaces are created first and foremost for people.
The title of the exhibition – Really Truthy Lies – is an expression Martin came across in a blog discussion about architectural photography versus art, and whether architectural photography can be considered a truthful representation given the photographic techniques used in this genre to portray buildings “at their best”.
Martin says architectural photography “has been stuck in a stylistic straightjacket and the boundaries need to be pushed”. He believes the media has been a great influence on determining photographic styles for architecture, and that the industry has fallen into the pattern of meeting editorial design aesthetics rather than putting forward a true representation.
In order to shift away from formulaic imagery, Martin says he chose to incorporate a human model into each setting. “A lot of architectural photography doesn’t include people and when it does, often it is a highly contrived use of people within the frame. Through the use of lighting and the figure (model), I aim to highlight the often illustrative nature of architectural photography that is used by architects as advertising, and presented as reality in the media”.
Although he exerts that boundaries need to be pushed, Martin says, “I did not want to stray too far” from what is visually considered architectural photography, and create “abstract images that would be considered outside the genre”.
Martin hopes this collection of photographs “makes people think about architectural imagery in a different way. In my opinion many architectural photographs exist in the background, but I believe photography plays a bigger role in the discourse on architecture as a whole”.
“Really Truthy Lies is a reminder that architecture is for people and the images convey how I feel about a space when I am in it, with or without my camera,” he concludes.
Alison Stieven-Taylor
Really Truthy Lies
Until 25 November 2012
Queensland Centre for Photography
Corner Cordelia & Russell Streets
South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Free Entry
Open Wednesday to Saturday 10am-5pm
Sunday 11am – 3pm
