I Created A Series Of Self-Portraits At Ricardo Bofill’s Famous Muralla Roja (11 Pics)

Together with a multidisciplinary team, Bofill has devoted two decades on designing series of buildings, collectively known as La Manzanera, a tourist resort in Calp, Alicante. Being part of this project, albeit a residential complex, La Muralla Roja reinterprets the Arab Mediterranean tradition of the kasbah. The monolithic fortress, whose appearance mirrors the opposite Rocka of Ifach, consists of a labyrinth-like geometric plan. It is based on grouping Greek cross typology elements and connecting them in an ensemble of patios. Crowned with flat roof terraces containing solariums, a swimming pool, and a sauna, the complex is undoubtedly an iconic work of architecture.

Captivated by its uniqueness, I decided to conquer the monumental geometry of the “kasbah’s walls”, by inserting my body in various positions and capturing the result in photography. Instead of nowadays “architecture follows nature”, my photographic motto is “body follows architecture”.

The idea was to blend myself into the architecture in both form and color, the accent being on the color. At times my body is dynamic, active, energetic, at others, calm, adopting, meditative. While it struggles to embrace the form, and is challenged by steep insurmountable stairs, the organic outlines of my body merge with the straight and strict lines of the space. My clothes borrow colors from the architecture palette; sometimes adopting even indistinguishable nuances. Like brushes of architecture’s color softly accentuating chosen elements.

And while the shapes and the volumes remain solid like a rock, I subvert their monumentality by my physical presence. “Matching with architecture”, if only in act, color and in a future prospect, which experimental results are yet to be seen.