Completing an image

Manpriya Singh

For Le Corbusier, movement and change went hand in hand with discovery and invention. The four factors which partly defined the master architect. Or, shall we say the master artist? Art, which guided the spaces he created, the spaces which he ironically found in India.

The Embassy of Switzerland in India, on the occasion of the 50th death anniversary of Le Corbusier, presents Le Corbusier—Mastering the Image, an exhibition focusing on (among other things) his relationship to photography. Shares Sophie Vantieghem, assistant curator, Museum of Fine Arts of La Chaux de Fonds, “These works show the importance of photography in his works and how he also used photography to promote his works.”

Many of the 150 black and white images displayed have been taken by Le Corbusier himself. Regardless, they give a view in sync with the philosophy of the creator, straight, neat and in concrete. She adds, “We have been working on the project since January now. This exhibition has already traveled in 2013, being exhibited at CIVA, Brussels, Belgium.”

Post the city, the exhibition moves to New Delhi and Ahmedabad, followed by Mumbai, Kochi and Chennai next year.

The man of technology

The exhibits, starting with the chronology section, bring forth his early life, starting from his office in La Chaux de Fonds, offering his services as an architect, interior decorator and furniture designer.

While nothing remains little explored about the master architect’s life, a few facets still remain lesser explored, like the fact he kept his private life guarded. Adds Sophie, “He was always very close to new technology. He had the best cameras at that time and was in sync with technological advancements of the time.”

It was an affair with images in a variety of ways, as a means of note taking, as a tool for experimentation with forms, an outlet for creative energies.

There are a few images which capture the shapes and elements appearing regularly in his photographs. His significant number of summer holidays spent near sea shores, where elements like boats, rigging, beaches and objects thrown up from the sea appear in his paintings from that period. Rest of the sections focus on his contemporary approach, portraits of his life and his inspirations.

Moving on the section The Indian Dream, showing him with the master plan of the city. His conception of a city into 60 sectors and seven major road axes.

Very few might also know that it was a life brought to an end by drowning. Incidentally, the people who brought him ashore were the very fishermen whose photographs he took.

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On till September 24 at Government Museum and Art Gallery—Sector 10, Chandigarh.