Portraits: Shaped in Concrete

 

Concrete is one of the most universal, durable, and aesthetically pleasing building materials in architectural history. It is the second-most used material on earth and the second-largest emitter of CO2. A global dialogue around environmental sustainability and climate change has put the concrete family in the spotlight of innovation and experimentation to shape a more sustainable future.

“Portraits: Shaped in Concrete” is a study of the distinct concrete family members that are being found around the world.

Ruta’s passion for concrete aesthetics came naturally since the material offers flexibility to achieve interesting interaction with form and structure. The artist encounters a unique collaboration with each charismatic family member which was found on accident throughout her travels in two continents. Every building has its own unique portraiture, with its shapes, structure and (im)perfections that can be intensified with a help of either urban context, weather, or light & shadow. The time spent analyzing each of them helps to discover the best charismatic concrete angle and capture it using various gear ranging from smartphones to full-frame cameras.

In this project, each eye-catching portrait is housed by a plywood frame representing a concrete formwork which reminds us of the way that concrete is being shaped  at a construction site. The composition grid represents the different parts of the world that each member is standing.

 

Project Supporters:

Tom Arban – Architectural Photographer;

Autodesk Technology Center in Toronto;

Tyson Fogel – Technical/Workshop Specialist, Autodesk Technology Centers

Matthew Spremulli – Engagement Manager, Autodesk Technology Centers

 

And yet, more lost concrete family members to be found.