For more than 55 years, Brian Lewis has designed buildings and documented them through photography.
Now, the renowned architect is bringing both passions together in “Last Light” – his final exhibition.
“I’ve done quite well. Thank you, Lord. I’ve done okay, you know, so I’m satisfied that this is a conclusion to a state of my life.”
The collection of striking black-and-white images, invites viewers to look beyond colour and appreciate architecture through light, shadow and form.
“These photographs are all in black and white, and they are meant to enhance, as it were, the understanding or appreciation of architecture by seeing the latitude of light control and tones in the photographs. Hopefully it will evoke a response by the public or whoever, art enthusiasts or whoever, to look again, to look a little more deeply at the photographs, because most of these are contemplative kind of photographs.”
After more than five decades in architecture and architectural photography, Mr Lewis hopes the exhibition inspires a deeper appreciation for the profession while encouraging architects to better showcase their work to the world.
“I really wish architects would do a better job of promoting their profession and their work, and I hope that another photographer comes along with the passion to do architectural photography and who will take over and help architects to do a better job, you know, and promote work in the Caribbean and worldwide, of what we can do here Because I think it’s what we do is world class too, you know, can be, but we don’t really promote it as well as we ought to.”
As he closes this chapter of his career, Mr Lewis is also encouraging photographers to preserve their work in lasting forms, saying books remain an important way to document creative achievements beyond the digital age.
“I would encourage photographers to do books. I know books don’t sound to be the rage these days with digital and so on, but it’s a way of making your work a little more permanent.”
Mr Lewis describes “Last Light” as his parting artistic statement, one that celebrates Caribbean architecture while inspiring a new generation of architects.
The exhibition, sponsored by ACLA Architecture, is ongoing until July 25th at the Medulla Art Gallery.