A breathtaking survey of sacred architecture is on view in the exhibition Markus Brunetti: FACADES – Grand Tour at Yossi Milo. Part of an ongoing series of work, the large-scale prints are a tribute to the complex architectural history of European architecture. Structures from Poland, Norway, Spain, Italy, and Portugal, among others, are on view.

Markus Brunetti

Druskininkai, Visu liudinciuju Džiaugsmas cerkve, 2016-2011

© Markus Brunetti, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York

A uniformity of presentation works to accentuate the exquisitely unique detail of each of Brunetti’s subjects - churches, synagogues and basilicas.  All of the works are photographed under overcast skies, full frame, offering a sense of symmetry by the inclusion of pairs of trees, glimpses of ocean or the like, on either side of the lower section of the image frames. Brunetti’s images are a constructed perfection made from thousands of high resolution images shot over time. Capturing every minute detail that the human eye could not possibly see in one sighting, the works are in one sense a hyper-realistic study guide designed to ignite further exploration.

                                       

Markus Brunetti

Borgund, Stavkyrkje, 2016-2017

© Markus Brunetti, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York

As a whole, the body of work leads viewers toward an increasingly differentiated sense of what a “church,” “synagogue” or “sacred space” might mean, stimulating by default questions of who, what, and how it represents a people, a culture and a style of worship. What is the significance of color, round shapes, scale, or sharp angles? One of Brunetti’s intentions is to make these works in the spirit of the original builders and architects who may not have even seen the final structures, which often took many decades or hundreds of years to finish. The meticulous dedication to the completion of such buildings demonstrates the timeless aspects of faith across cultures, as well as a deep infinite meditation on creativity.

Markus Brunetti

Wells Cathedral Church of St. Andrews, 2015-2016 Archival Pigment Print

© Markus Brunetti, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York

Brunetti’s art is made as a result of continuous travel and work with his partner, Betty Schoener, and their roving digital production setup. A standout of the series, Borgund, Stavkyrkje, shot in Norway is striking due to its ornate construction in wood. Built beginning in 1180 on a stone foundation, the church’s timber framework suggests a relationship to earth and the natural world. It offers a pointed contrast to the other structures on view built in stone, evocative of man-made monuments to the sky and the intangible.

Markus Brunetti

Ribeira de Pena, Igreja Matriz do Salvador, 2013-2017

© Markus Brunetti, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York

Several of the structures are built out of limestone, including Wells Cathedral Church of St. Andrews, located in Somerset in the United Kingdom. With approximately 100 figures sculpted on the facade, the implications of language and storytelling seem to be emphasized in the Anglican church’s architectural language. The selection of works on view offers a pleasing variety with facades made of blue tile in Portugal, vibrant peach tone found in Poland and on a Russian Orthodox church in Germany. Asymmetry can be found in several of the building styles, offering an interesting contrast to the copious amounts of symmetry found across the exhibition.

Markus Brunetti: FACADES – Grand Tour is on view at Yossi Milo through March 17, 2018.

See more from Yossi Milo Gallery on:

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter