La Bisazza Foundation for Design and Contemporary Architecture pays homage to the German photographer Candida Höfer, with an exhibition “Candida Höfer. Images of Architecture", a journey through over twenty large format photographs selected directly by the author, which will be exhibited from 9 May until 27 July 2014.
Always protagonists in the images of Candida Höfer the interiors of public spaces - museums, libraries, archives, theatres, offices, banks, historic buildings and metro stations - photographed using the technique of simple framing and distanced shooting, without human figures and illuminated strictly by the sole presence of light natural. These are shots characterized by a unique sharpness and taken without any type of digital retouching. Temples of knowledge and knowledge which, presented in this way, allow each spectator to establish an exclusive relationship with the portrayed place, identifying him in a solitary contemplation, which allows him to grasp every smallest detail, otherwise rendered invisible.
Images with a strong suggestive impact, true "architectural portraits", expressions of that unique and impressive style, which for years has distinguished the work of Candida Höfer, who oversaw the staging of the exhibition project together with the Bisazza Foundation.
“The subject of my work is public and institutional spaces. I prefer them when they are not overrun by the public yet. It is then that they know how to tell more about the people who live them or have lived them. The spaces speak of light, that's why I immortalize them in the very light in which I find them, natural or artificial. Spaces have functions. Functions create analogies. I am fascinated by the difference in these analogies“ Candida Höfer.
Works on display at the Bisazza Foundation:
• Municipal garage Venice I 2003
• Collegium Helveticum ETH Zürich 2005
• Fundacao Bienal de São Paulo I 2005
• Fundacao Bienal de São Paulo II 2005
• Real Gabinete Português de Leitura Rio de Janeiro IV 2005
• Palais Garnier Paris XXXI 2005
• Teatro alla Scala Milan III 2005
• Palàcio do Itamarati Brasilia I 2005
• Palace and Convent Library de Mafra I 2006
• Casa Musica Porto IV 2006
• Casa Musica Porto V 2006
• Casa Musica Porto I 2006
• Palacio da Bolsa no Porto II 2006
• Neues Museum Weimar II 2006 – Daniel Buren
• Goethe National Museum Weimar II 2006
• Opernhaus Cologne II 2007
• Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne Paris I 2007
• Julia Stoschek Collection Düsseldorf V 2008
• Lauder Business School Wien III 2004
• Bibliotheca dei Girolamini Napoli I 2009
• Neues Museum Berlin XXII 2009
• SANAA-Gebäude Essen I 2009
• Abadía Cisterciense Santa María la Real de Oseira I 2010
• IES Otero Pedrayo Ourense II 2010
• Convent of San Francisco de Val de Dio Santiago de Compostela I 2010
• Archive General of Indias Sevilla II 2010
• Archivo General de Indias Sevilla I 2010
• Binding Brauerei Kassel I 2004
• Gio Marconi Gallery Milan I 2005
• Neues Museum Berlin I 2009
Candida Höfer attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Düsseldorf, initially studying Cinema with Ole John, then Photography with Bernd Becher. Her work has been exhibited in numerous prestigious international museums such as the Kunsthalle in Basel, the Kunsthalle in Bern, the Portikus in Frankfurt, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Power Plant in Toronto, the Kunsthaus Bregenz and the Museum Ludwig of Cologne. In 2002 Candida Höfer participated in Documenta 11 while in 2003 she represented – with Martin Kippenberger – Germany at the Venice Biennale.
The artist lives in Cologne.
