"The Life and Death of Buildings" Photography Exhibit

Zhang Dali, Demolition, World Financial Center, Beijing. 1998

What is a building's "life"? What is the context of its "death"? "The Life and Death of Buildings," a splendid photography show at the Princeton University Art Museum, usefully and interestingly explores these and other themes. The exhibit generally avoids dense, wordy specialist schemes and projects its inquiry in plain English. The ideas presented consequently mesh nicely with the excellent selection of images. Some photographers in the show, such as Berenice Abbott and Aaron Siskind, are well known. Others, including Danny Lyon, have far less notoriety with general audiences.

One aspect of the show I liked was how it offered credit to master printer Chuck Kelton. He's well known and appreciated in the photography world for his wonderful darkroom wizardry. Some of Danny Lyon's work at Princeton included Kelton's touch.

The museum's website provides an excellent overview of the show, links to some of the photographers, and links to "related" work from artists not included in the exhibit proper.

If you live in the New York-Philadelphia axis, "The Life and Death of Buildings" is definitely worth the trip. (The show closes on November 6th.) Best of all, the museum, including its exquisite collection of antique art and Asian art, is free.