‘Site Unseen’ explores viewing and documenting architecture through photography

The Center of Contemporary Photography in Melbourne invites us to ‘Site Unseen', an exhibition about different ways of viewing and documenting architecture

Gavin Green, Untitled (J.H. Wardrop I).
Gavin Green, Untitled (J.H. Wardrop I)
(Image credit: press)

‘Site Unseen' is an exhibition that questions the way we view architecture. What if, instead of photographing architecture as an object, we look at it as a subject, asks Tom Ross, a photographer himself, who curated the new exhibition that's currently open at the Center of Contemporary Photography (CCP) in Melbourne. Part of the city's Open House Melbourne programme (30-31 July 2022), the show brings together the work of a mix of global architectural photographers who together explore different ways of viewing, experiencing and documenting architecture through the photographic lens. 

The pieces on display are extremely varied, created by artists including 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. ‘In a time when architecture representation is being narrowed to imagery of persuasion, this exhibition serves as a reminder of the sincere exchange between people and the built environment,' says Ross.

‘Site Unseen’ at CCP Melbourne

Installation view of site unseen photo exhibition in Melbourne

Installation view of ‘Site Unseen’.

(Image credit: Tom Ross)

Bringing together diversity in treatments, topics, a range of emotions, as well as work methods, the exhibition fascinates in its richness and unexpected views of our built environment, exploring familiar buildings (such as the Australian Islamic Center of Newport by Glenn Murcutt & Elevli Plus) in a new light. At the same time, seemingly anonymous corners of our urban realm come to life and are celebrated, put centre stage through the gaze of photographers. 

‘Experienced largely on a subconscious level, architecture can contribute to moments of harmony and moments of friction in our every day. This exhibition calls for a moment of pause, to examine the built environment and our interaction with it through the lens’ of this incredibly talented cohort of photographers,' says the newly appointed director of CCP, Daniel Boetker-Smith.

‘Site Unseen' will be on until the end of July, across all four galleries at Melbourne's CCP. All works are available to purchase.

Annika Kafcaloudis, Building Site 01 2022

Annika Kafcaloudis, Building Site 01 2022

(Image credit: press)

Brooke Holm, Judd II 2020

Brooke Holm, Judd II 2020

(Image credit: press)

Pier Carthew, Tin Alley from the series Melbourne Uni 2022

Pier Carthew, Tin Alley from the series Melbourne Uni 2022

(Image credit: press)

Rohan Hutchinson Kamikawa Subprefecture Series Untitled 5

Rohan Hutchinson Kamikawa Subprefecture Series Untitled 5

(Image credit: press)

Rory Gardiner, Al Jaddaf 11 2022

Rory Gardiner, Al Jaddaf 11 2022

(Image credit: press)

Ying Ang, Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast 2013

Ying Ang, Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast 2013

(Image credit: press)

Veeral Patel, Australian Islamic Center of Newport by Glenn Murcutt & Elevli Plus 2022

Veeral Patel, Australian Islamic Center of Newport by Glenn Murcutt & Elevli Plus 2022

(Image credit: press)

Morgan Hickinbotham, Practicalities in Architecture I, 2022

Morgan Hickinbotham, Practicalities in Architecture I, 2022

(Image credit: press)

Tom Ross, Birrarung 2021, Untitled 1

Tom Ross, Birrarung 2021, Untitled 1

(Image credit: press)

John Gollings, Corrigan Edmond, Kay St Carlton Housing 1983

John Gollings, Corrigan Edmond, Kay St Carlton Housing 1983

(Image credit: press)

Coco Maximilian, Phoenix

Coco Maximilian, Phoenix

(Image credit: press)

Mengzhu Jiang, Osaka University of Arts 2019

Mengzhu Jiang, Osaka University of Arts 2019

(Image credit: press)

Erieta Attali Bernard Tschumi Architects, The New Acropolis Museum, Athens,Greece

Erieta Attali Bernard Tschumi Architects, The New Acropolis Museum, Athens,Greece

(Image credit: press)

BenHosking, When Skin Has Eyes, Untitled VI, 2018

BenHosking, When Skin Has Eyes, Untitled VI, 2018

(Image credit: press)

INFORMATION

ccp.org.au (opens in new tab)

Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture Editor at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018) and Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020).