Presence & Absence: Nic Lehoux and Attilio Fiumarella

Opening reception: Tuesday, January 28, 7–9 p.m.

Curatorial Tour: Thursday, January 16, 1:30 p.m.

Farsi Exhibition Tour: Saturday, January 18, 2 p.m.

Artist Talk: Nic Lehoux: Saturday, February 22, 2 p.m.

Artist Talk: Attilio Fiumarella: Saturday, February 29, 2 p.m.

Curatorial Tour: Saturday, March 7, 2 p.m.

Presence & Absence contrasts the work of two contemporary architectural photographers, Attilio Fiumarella and Nic Lehoux, who explore the different ways in which design impacts our use and engagement with public spaces. Fiumarella and Lehoux share a common interest in architecture and social documentary but approach their photography from distinct perspectives to reveal insights about how built form is inextricably linked to human activity. What connects Fiumarella and Lehoux in their field is a shared interest in work that seeks to demonstrate the social impact of built form. What distinguishes their practices from each other is their methods. 

Nic Lehoux, a passionate observer of light, architecture and the human condition, has been an architectural photographer for over 20 years. He works closely with some of the world’s most respected architects, showcasing in photographs what makes their work unique. The strength of his work is defined by a very strong signature, where people within the space take on a primordial role in defining that space. His work has been published regularly in every major architectural publication, and in hundreds of books. His work has also been exhibited in galleries and museums internationally and is a key component in the permanent collection of the Renzo Piano Building Foundation, Genoa, Italy. His interests in social documentary work have resulted in several personal projects that bridge architecture and society. Lehoux has been invited to participate in the Venice Architecture Biennale 2020.

Attilio Fiumarella is a photographic artist interested in social landscapes. His work focuses on identity, social justice, migration and environment. He was born in Italy and moved to Portugal in 2003 to complete his degree in architecture. He worked as an architect before starting a career as an architectural photographer in 2010. Fiumarella studied photography developing an interest in social affairs. While living in England (2013–18), Fiumarella used photography to interrogate issues of our time. Fiumarella was awarded a grant from the Arts Council of England in 2018 to complete his project on British identity. The resulting work, British Subject, was part of the Obscura Festival in Malaysia, Month of Photography Los Angeles and Foto Wien in Austria, among others. The project was compiled into a book, British Subject, which was nominated for the FUAM Dummy Book Award and the Unseen Dummy Award. Fiumarella has been commissioned by The Guardian, L’OBS, Die Welt, We Demain and the Financial Times. His work is held in several private and public collections and has been displayed across Europe, the USA, Asia and Australia, in group and individual exhibitions. He is now based in Vancouver, Canada.