Site Unseen
Site Unseen unites iconic Australian and international architectural photographers at Melbourne’s Centre for Contemporary Photography (CCP), exploring the emotional connection to the built environment.
Words: Emma-Kate Wilson
‘It’s important that we remain conscious of this place we’ve built for ourselves. The city is just another manifestation of culture, and what we hope for ourselves,’ says Tom Ross, pictured.
Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast 2013 by Ying Ang.
Curator of Site Unseen and established architectural photographer Tom Ross shares that the breadth of Australian architecture is mirrored in the accompanying documentation. The result is an industry rich with unique angles, light, and perspective; the drive to capture the best projects in each photographer’s distinct voice.
As Tom explains, ‘there’s a whole bunch of us competing for the same work, which also means there’s this great group of people pushing each other (in a positive way) and sharing information and points of view.’
The idea of an exhibition had been on the Melbourne-based photographer’s mind as he wanted to combine the work of his peers into the same room (away from the online space where they primarily work). What ensues is a collection of intimate moments that extend architecture photography into artworks centred on the experience between people and the built environment.
‘It’s important that we remain conscious of this place we’ve built for ourselves. The city is just another manifestation of culture, and what we hope for ourselves,’ Tom explains. ‘A bunch of buildings can remind us what we hold dear, and the stories we are telling each other.’
‘Spending so much time thinking about the built environment can’t help but interrogate every inch of it. When a building is on the other side of the camera, it very easily becomes an object. But it’s always a place built for people, so there’s a constant internal conversation with the place,’ says Tom Ross. Photo: Tom Ross
“I hope people feel like they’ve gotten to share in the sincere and honest emotional experience these artists have had with these places, and who have been generous enough to share.”
Site Unseen at Centre for Contemporary Photography (CCP). Photo: Tom Ross
Tin Alley from the series Melbourne Uni 2022 by Pier Carthew.
Centring on a sense of place, in the Sean Godsell-designed building, Centre for Contemporary Photography (CCP) offers a distinct framing to the exhibition, opening the conversation around an emotional connection to architecture. This continues inside with the artworks, hung in a series of juxtaposition that highlights the diversity of the urban landscape and the photography that captures it.
‘We’re most often employed to tell specific stories, make persuasive images with an agenda,’ Tom says. ‘I think it’s powerful to see the more personal, emotional experience of place these artists have dedicated themselves to communicating.’
If any of the works resonate with the viewer, the connection is invited to continue beyond the exhibition, available to purchase as editioned prints through the CCP website. ‘This exhibition is also a fundraiser to help in support of CCP, and so I do hope people go home with something nice for their wall,’ Tom reminds us.
Site Unseen runs from Friday 15 July until Sunday 31 July, featuring work by Rory Gardiner, John Gollings, Coco and Maximilian, Erieta Attali, Annika Kafcaloudis, Mengzhu Jiang, Veeral Patel, Gavin Green, Morgan Hickinbotham, Brooke Holm, Ben Hosking, Pier Carthew, Shannon McGrath, Tom Ross, Ying Ang and Rohan Hutchinson as part of the official Open House Melbourne (30 – 31 July 2022) program.
SITE UNSEEN
FRIDAY 15TH JULY - SUNDAY 31ST JULY
Centre for Contemporary Photography, 404 George Street, Fitzroy
