In the history of architecture, the cities of Rome and Las Vegas contrast radically with each other: while Rome, the former capital of the Roman Empire, is considered ancient, elegant and complex, Las Vegas, the 'Sin City', is perceived as garish, vulgar and artificial. Yet both cities are historically and contemporarily situated at the intersection of power and gambling.
Exhibition concept
Through the series of photographs presented in the exhibition, photographer Iwan Baan set out to capture not only Las Vegas, but also Rome on different scales.
The aerial photos are particularly significant because they underline just how thin the ostentatious facades in Vegas actually are; a situation not so different from the Trevi Fountain in Rome: when seen from above, you realize that it, too, is ultimately just a layer attached to a much larger building.
Iwan Baan
Iwan Baan (*1975) is a Dutch photographer based between Amsterdam and the U.S., known primarily for images that narrate the life and interactions that occur within architecture. With no formal training in architecture, Baan's photographs reflect the questions and perspectives of the everyday individuals who give meaning and context to the architecture and spaces that surround us. His artistic approach has given matters of architecture an approachable and accessible voice. In 2012, he received the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale for his work on the Torre David din Caracas, Venezuela, gaining him further international acclaim. Architects turn to Baan to give their work a sense of place and narrative within their environments. Baan’s first major retrospective of his globally renowned oeuvre will open at the Vitra Design Museum in Germany on October 21st, 2023.
Opening
The opening took place on October 19 at Villa Mal, at 19:30 in the presence of Iwan Baan.