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Manhattan in Moscow

Philip Sayer's photographs on show at Marsden Woo Gallery portray 7 Stalinist skyscrapers built in late 1940s/early 1950s.

"Manhattan in Moscow" is an exhibition of atmospheric photographs by Philip Sayer, depicting seven Stalinist skyscrapers built in late 1940s/early 1950s Moscow. The photographs were originally commissioned for Domus for an article written by Catherine Cooke, leading expert on Soviet avant-garde architecture. In the article, also entitled Manhattan in Moscow, Cooke asks, "What made Stalin build Russia's answer to Gotham City?" Sayer's accompanying photographs gave some visual clues that could answer this question, and can now be seen in their original format at Marsden Woo Gallery.

His black and white photos capture the brooding architectural dominance of these colossal structures, including the 27 storey Foreign Ministry, 24 storey Transport Ministry and the 240m tall Lomonsov Sate University, which encircle the city of Moscow. These striking architectural representations of social realism, although fuelled by optimism for the future, can be seen as huge exercises in Stalinist propaganda. He captures the complex history of these immense, commanding, and highly symbolic constructions – as awe inspiring feats of engineering, as anti-monuments to a failed optimism, and as sinister markers of a dominant regime.

Philip Sayer, <i>The Kotelniki Apartment Building I</i>, 2001. Photo © Philip Sayer. — Philip Sayer, *The Kotelniki Apartment Building I*, 2001. Photo © Philip Sayer.

A freelance photographer since the late 1960s, Sayer transfers his skills across a broad range of photographic media, including photojournalism, portraiture, interiors and architectural photography. All carry his personal stamp, and all are recognisable as 'his' photographs. It is not only his remarkable vision that is shown in all of Sayer's work, but his status as a master of traditional photographic printing processes. Sayer himself has said "It's the craft of hand printing which I love... I feel more like a craftsman than an artist."

Philip Sayer, <i>Moscow I</i>, 2001. Photo © Philip Sayer. — Philip Sayer, *Moscow I*, 2001. Photo © Philip Sayer.

He learnt much of his craft as apprentice to eminent photographer Maurice Broomfield, who documented the regeneration of heavy industry in post war Britain. Broomfield's influence can be seen in Sayer's photography, particularly in the Manhattan in Moscow series, which uses the black and white form to its most powerful and expressive potential. Like Broomfield, Sayer uses light and shadow to capture the drama of these socialist buildings, which appear visually stunning in his photographs. He concentrates on space, light, and form to ensure his striking signature style is felt in every one. Rachael Crabtree

The show at the Marsden Woo Gallery will be open until 19 March.

It's the craft of hand printing which I love... I feel more like a craftsman than an artist. (Philip Sayer)

Philip Sayer, <i>Moscow IV</i>, 2001. Photo © Philip Sayer — Philip Sayer, *Moscow IV*, 2001. Photo © Philip Sayer

A founding member of influential architecture and design magazine Blueprint in 1983, his work has appeared repeatedly in numerous prestigious periodicals, such as Blueprint, Domus, RA Magazine, Crafts Magazine, World of Interiors and the Museums Journal, as well as newspapers The London Evening Standard and The Times. He has worked with architectural author Gavin Stamp on his book about Scottish architect Alexander 'Greek' Thompson's work in Victorian Glasgow, and Deyan Sudjic's The 100 Mile City, as well as sculptor Anthony Gormley in 2009 for the photographic book Gormley on Guernsey, to name but a few of his collaborative projects.

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Manhattan in Moscow

Philip Sayer's photographs on show at Marsden Woo Gallery portray 7 Stalinist skyscrapers built in late 1940s/early 1950s.

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