Miami, l'insolente, 2022

Christian Goetghebeur  

Miami, the insolent — Miami Beach, United States

The facade of the National Hotel, in Miami Beach, embodies the geometric elegance of Art Deco architecture, of which the South Beach neighborhood constitutes one of the most iconic ensembles. Its vertical lines, symmetrical volumes, and decorative motifs attest to an architecture that combines the rigor of forms and aesthetic research.

In this photograph, the frontal composition highlights the symmetry of the building, while the palm trees and the sculpture in the foreground introduce organic forms that contrast with the architectural order.

With my photographic writing Sublimations, I propose a personal interpretation of this Art Deco architecture. Color and light become the materials of a new visual construction: the intense red sky, the turquoise palm trees, and the facades in shades of pink, yellow, and green profoundly change the perception of this space.

This chromatic work accentuates the lines, redistributes the relationships between the volumes, and gives the whole an almost theatrical dimension. The architecture retains its identity and geometry, while acquiring a singular pictorial presence.

The photograph thus explores the meeting between the sophistication of Art Deco, the tropical exuberance of Miami, and my eye as a colorist photographer. It invites rediscovering this iconic architecture through a composition where color renews our perception of the place.

Technique and edition

Color silver gelatin print on Fujiflex Crystal Archive paper mounted on Dibond with matte edges.

Dimensions: 120 × 90 cm.

Limited edition of 15 copies, all formats included.