Architecture, according to photographer Ken Konchel, is not a dismissible backdrop to our daily lives – it’s a dynamic force that shapes our society, connects our past and defines our relationships. “In Place of Context,” Konchel’s newest exhibition at The Kranzberg Arts Foundation, invites viewers to reconstruct their view of the world around them through a close examination of the fundamental elements of architecture – shape, line, pattern, tone and texture – and appreciate the integral aspects of their existence which can often be taken for granted. The exhibition, shown from Dec. 1, 2023, to Jan. 27, 2024, promises compositions that stretch beyond immediate recognition and introduces audiences to intriguing visual possibilities that transform the buildings, and world, around them.

Congratulations on “In Place of Context.” Can you share the inspiration behind the title and what it signifies in the larger context of your work?

“The name of the exhibition emerges from my intention to make compelling photographs that remove the context and distill architecture to nothing but relationships with shape, line, pattern, form, detail, tone and texture. I used to create more representational work, but I found more fulfillment in taking detailed shots of buildings to create compositions that don’t immediately reveal themselves as architecture. I like to take detailed images of architecture up close, so audiences can’t quite recognize the building right away and view it from a perspective they may not have considered before.”

Your photography often involves using unusual vantage points and spatial ambiguities between buildings. How do you choose these perspectives, and what role does the viewer’s interaction with space play into your artistic vision?

“I’ve been shooting in St. Louis for a long time; years ago, I began documenting the architecture of other cities. At this point, I’m up to 19 cities in addition to St. Louis. What I typically do is called ‘scouting for an image,’ which is where I’ll walk around a building that I find intriguing to determine the composition that would be most compelling. I evaluate potential shots that explore the angles, cubes, curves, triangles and other shapes of the building to challenge and captivate people by introducing them to different visual possibilities in architecture.”

Your photographic style involves precise calibration of lines, shapes and forms. Can you elaborate on the meticulous process behind achieving this precision, and the visual impact it has on your work?

“I shoot silver gelatin photography and darkroom photography. I use a four-by-five-inch negative to take the photographs, so I don’t have the luxury of taking 50 pictures. I have to be very careful about getting the picture right the first time with the film I’m using – it’s a very deliberate process. That means that none of my images are manipulated like you can do with a digital camera. It’s very challenging to take photographs of buildings where there are trees, powerlines or anything obstructing my ability to get a good view of the subject matter that I want to shoot. I feel proud that I’m able to do that without photoshopping my photographs.”

How do you hope viewers will perceive and interact with your photographs in this exhibition?

“One of my goals is to help people appreciate architecture. Architecture gives us a sense of place and identity, it enhances and advances our creative legacy, and it contributes immeasurably to our quality of life. But so often it’s dismissed as mundane and taken for granted. My ambition is to raise awareness and an appreciation for it. When people look at my work and say, ‘I’ve seen this building before, but I’ve never seen it in this particular way,’ that’s a real compliment to me.”

Looking ahead, what artistic endeavors or themes are you excited to explore?

“I typically travel in the spring and fall to photograph because those are seasons when the lighting conditions are ideal for photographing architecture. I’m hoping to go to Washington D.C. next spring to document [its] architecture, so I’m looking forward to that.”

Ken Konchel, kenkonchelphoto.com

Kranzberg Arts Foundation, kranzbergartsfoundation.org