Dive deep into the enchanting spaces of historic Italian architecture through the lenses of renowned German artist, Candida Höfer, at the Patricia Low Venice exhibition.

Unveiling Italy’s Architectural Heart

Patricia Low Venezia offers art aficionados a splendid visual treat with “Inside Italian Architecture”, a collection from Candida Höfer. This is the third exhibition gracing the newly established gallery overlooking the majestic Grand Canal in Venice. Timing couldn’t be better; the exhibition runs in parallel with the final months of the 18th Architecture Biennale.

Famous Places, Unfamiliar Perspectives

Höfer’s lens has traversed and captured some of Italy’s most iconic public domains – from the echoing chambers of Villa Borghese in Rome to the majestic corridors of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. Not to mention the Teatro dell’Opera della Fenice in Venice, standing in the historic San Marco district, just a stone’s throw from the gallery.

A Journey from 2008 to 2012

These large format color photographs, shot between 2008 and 2012, are an enigma. They’re empty of human figures, yet filled with life. Rows upon rows of books, sculptures, paintings, and intricate architectural details form the content of Höfer’s frames. They hint at human interaction and whisper tales of past inhabitants.

Craftsmanship in Photography

Natural light and long exposures are Höfer’s allies. This results in spaces illuminated in a manner that gives them a nearly divine radiance. She doesn’t just photograph rooms; she encapsulates both space and time within her frames.

The Woman Behind the Lens

Born in 1944, Eberswalde, Germany, Candida Höfer now resides in Cologne. Her tutelage under the iconic Bernd and Hilla Becher at the Düsseldorf Academy of Art in the 70s is well-recognized. Höfer’s distinct style focuses on the vacant interiors of public edifices. Yet, these spaces, in her photographs, resonate with palpable energy.

With a decorated career, she’s exhibited from the Parisian Louvre to the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, and many more globally recognized art institutions. The Venice Biennale saw her represent Germany in 2003. Accolades? She has many, including the recent Lucie Award Honoree in 2022 and a recognition from the Sony World Photography Awards in 2018.

Today, her art graces the walls of renowned establishments like the Center Pompidou in Paris, New York’s Museum of Modern Art, and London’s Tate Modern, to mention a few.