Conceptual nominee

Contemporary architecture can be both inspiring and controversial – and can divide public opinion. There is often a fractious line between like and dislike.

As more a more of the world’s population choose to live in cities, the importance of imaginatively designed buildings, especially public buildings and spaces is of growing importance - be their uses as art galleries, libraries, terminuses or recreational spaces etc.

Whatever the architectural merit of these public spaces, opinion can still be divided, on both on the facility’s merit of design, its usefulness to the masses (not jut the well off and social elite), its cost effectiveness and value for money.

This series of photographs attempts to go beyond the usual architectural photographic stereotype. The symbolically featured vertical line-form represents the sometime division and hostility that such buildings can engender.

This line also represents however, that contemporary public buildings and spaces at their best, (such as the Miro Fundacio, where these photos were taken) can bring people from all parts of the world together, create a dynamic fusion of ideas and creative forms - and help energise, and sometimes revitalise, cities and its peoples.

Chris Kirby specialises in the areas of social context including: culture and identity, traditions and beliefs, socio-economic issues and marginalised communities.

In his work, Chris often embellishes his images with lines, marks and colouring to disrupt the conventional perspective associated with the medium and the subject matter – and in a nuanced way convey deeper meaning to the imagery.

He was admitted to Kingston College of Art and Design (in the UK) and later obtained a diploma in journalism from the British College of Journalism. He is naturally inquisitive about people(s) and the manner in which they live their lives; as a result he works mostly in the realm of social documentary and environmental portraiture.

Chris’s work has been exhibited in the UK, Europe and USA, featured in numerous print and online publications, and has won recognition in international awards.

Recent awards include:

Bronze Award - International Aperture Awards, 2012
Award of Merit - Grand Prix de la Decouverte, 2013
Exhibition - Soweto, On the Inside - Norwich, 2014
Published - "Under the Big Top" - photobook, 2014
Honourable Mentions - IPA International Photography Awards, 2015
Winner - Urban Photographer of the Year, 2015
Honourable Mention - Monochrome Awards, 2015