Spirit of Place

Photography by Aurelien Villette

What happens to buildings when they are no longer needed or have
outlasted their original purpose? They are either lovingly restored so
they can be used for something else--or they fall into ruin, where they
remain as silent witnesses of a bygone era. French photographer Aurelien
Villette has made it his mission to trace these dilapidated
buildings--some completely forgotten by history--and capture their
incomparable beauty in wondrous color photographs. Whether his subject
is a Christian chapel, an erstwhile theater, or the events center in a
former Communist country, Villette brings the spirit and pathos of the
place once embodied back to life. At the same time, the ruins in his
evocative photographs are stylized to create cultural heirlooms of the
various periods and countries where they are located. The technically
perfect photography allows the viewer to infer various architectural
influences of earlier times, making this volume a very special
historical and cultural documentation. Allow yourself to be transported
by the breathtaking beauty of these images and dive into a former era
where time stands still.

Code: 20266

Member price: $67.50