Eminent Architects

Seen by Ingrid von Kruse

Portrait Rem Koolhaas
Images: © Ingrid v. Kruse, Eminent Architects.
Photographer: Ingrid von Kruse

Dates: 19 November 2011 – 15 January 2012
Venue: Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM),
3rd floor, Schaumainkai 43
60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Opening hours: Tue., Thu.-Sat. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. / Wed. 11 a.m.–8 p.m. / Sun. 11 a.m.–7 p.m.;
Mon. closed

Man as the creator of constructed space has at all times decisively shaped and influenced his environment. This symbiosis of individuals, architecture and culture seems to find today’s formal and esthetic expression, in particular, in ever more spectacular contemporary buildings. The photographer, Ingrid von Kruse, depicts in her 32 portraits internationally recognized architects who have decisively influenced the architecture of our time as well as the specific ways and means in which we perceive the built environment. In exceptionally expressive and personal black-and-white photographs von Kruse enables us to gain an all but intimate insight into the individuals and their work.

Portrait David Chipperfield

Ingrid von Kruse, working always with an analog Hasselblad and using natural light only, photographs the architects in their personal environment, their ateliers, their homes or recent construction sites. Prior to releasing the shutter, the photographer familiarizes herself with the achievements and the publications of the portrayed individuals and then in conversation attempts to create a relaxed atmosphere for the shooting.

The portrait photographs are complemented in the exhibition and in the accompanying publication by sketches and photographs of models created in the respective ateliers of the architects. In addition, the portrayed individuals comment in short texts on their personal approach to architecture.

Portrait Kazujo Sejima

In the overall display, the photographs, models, sketches and short commentaries combine to create extraordinary portraits of eminent architects. Photographs of Tadao Ando, Gottfried Böhm, Mario Botta, Santiago Calatrava, David Chipperfield, Peter Eisenman, Norman Foster, Frank O. Gehry, Meinhard von Gerkan, Zaha Hadid, Hans Hollein, Bjarke Ingels, Helmut Jahn, Rem Koolhaas, Phyllis Lambert, Daniel Libeskind, Volkwin Marg, Richard Meier, Rafael Moneo, Oscar Niemeyer, Ryue Nishizawa, Ieoh Ming Pei, Dominique Perrault, Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers, Kazuyo Sejima, Àlvaro Siza, Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, Albert Speer, Oswald Mathias Ungers and Peter Zumthor are on display.

The presentation on the third floor of the Deutsches Architekturmuseum is enhanced by selected models from the DAM archives of projects by these architects.

Portrait Peter Zumthor

Curriculum Vitae of Ingrid von Kruse
The photographer, Ingrid von Kruse, was born in Hamburg and initially studied Graphics and Design at the College for Creative Arts in Hamburg. She came into contact with photography in a rather indirect manner through efforts to display her own creative designs in a favorable light using the camera. Her first very successful exhibition was of impressive photographs taken during a trip to Italy, simultaneously marking the turning point in her professional career. She made the decision to study photography at the Polytechnic University in Essen (1978-1981) and, during the following years, began to concentrate ever more on portrait photography. With meticulous and exacting observation and intuition, Ingrid von Kruse creates extraordinary portraits of eminent personalities. Various international exhibitions have taken place in connection with her books, such as “Europe Taken Literally”, “Time and Moments”, and “Venice – Voices between the Stone and the Sea”. Her work has become an integral part of several public and private collections. Ingrid von Kruse lives and works in Hamburg.

Publication
Ingrid von Kruse (Ed.)
Eminent Architects
Seen by Ingrid von Kruse
With an introduction by Martha Thorne
German / English
288 Pages, with approx. 124 b/w Photos and 50 plans and sketches
Hardcover with Clothbound
Dimensions: 24,5 x 28,5 cm
2011.
ISBN: 978-3-86859-111-8
68.- EUR

For ordering please contact the Publisher
JOVIS, Berlin - www.jovis.de or the museum store

Further Informationen:
Deutsches Architekturmuseum
Schaumainkai 43 • 60596 Frankfurt am Main
Tel.: 0 69 - 21 23 67 06
Fax: 0 69 - 21 23 63 86
eMail: info.dam@stadt-frankfurt.de
web: www.dam-online.de