Nigel Green: Reconstruction
20 January - 14 February 2012
Herbert Read Gallery, UCA Canterbury
'Reconstruction' is a photographic project documenting the post First and Second World War architecture of Picardy in Northern France. Representing a unique expression of architectural influences, the buildings of the reconstruction define a form of vernacular modernism that extends from the 1920s to the 1970s. Suffering widespread devastation in both wars the enormous task of reconstruction encompassed every form of built structure: agricultural, civic, domestic and religious. Entire towns and villages were rebuilt from scratch creating a uniquely 20th century architectural environment. The resulting photographs document a largely overlooked period of architecture and serve to highlight ideas concerning the photographic representation of the built environment, along with issues of history and cultural memory.
The project was completed and published in 2010 and was funded by Diaphane, the regional photographic organisation of Picardy. The work has been exhibited at the Maison de l"Architecture de Picardie, Amiens, Espace Seraphine Louis, Clermont, Picardy and at Les Recontres d'Arles in Diaphane en Residences, Bourse du Travail, 2010. The exhibition at the Herbert Read Gallery will be the first show of the project in the UK.
A book to accompany the project is also available and includes a specially commissioned essay by the architectural historian Martin Kew Meade.
Herbert Read Gallery, UCA Canterbury
The Herbert Read Gallery hosts exhibitions which relate to the subject specialisms of its Canterbury campus. The University also organises exhibitions of work produced by current and former students and staff in collaboration with external venues such as local hospitals and health centres, businesses and other educational institutions.
Opening Times
Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm
Admission free.
There is parking at the campus (including disabled bays) and full disabled access to the gallery.
Please visit the Exhibition Archive.
