Béton Brut
Where are you from? Where do you live? Seemingly, simple, innocent questions that can mask a dark underbelly of prejudices and stereotypes. Zip codes, “hoods” or housing projects, even down to street addresses all carry a heavy baggage of class, snobbery and even hatred. Ask any kid from “the wrong side of town” what it feels like to admit you’re from the “East End” or the “Northside” or whatever their local equivalent of “Sin City” is.
“What3words” is a recent, democratic, digital invention to pinpoint a precise location anywhere on the planet but without the instant judgement of traditional addresses. These days, any ghetto address becomes a simple list of 3 random words with (for the moment, at least) no brownie points or disdain clinging to it when spoken out loud.
A what3words location not only gives no clue as to its geographical position, it also gives no clue as to the architectural style or aesthetic merit of the pinpointed real estate. Georgian townhouses or brutalist office blocks are given equal status. Even though, King Charles once denounced a proposed addition to the National Gallery in London as a “monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend.” some experts would argue that unadorned, materials such as raw concrete with no pretense or claims of ancient Greek perfection are more honest and democratic construction materials than buildings adorned with frivolous adornments with no practical use
Utilizing his trademark, rich, multi layered, photo based, digital, montages, “Béton Brut” is a body of work from visual storyteller JW Andrew, which uses “what3words” to examine, without prejudice a number of architectural styles, from the symmetry of Georgian townhouses to raw concrete, brutalist office blocks.
Aesthetically, the images are influenced by a wide range of contemporary creatives including –
All of these unique "Béton Brut" images are available to own as top quality, Giclee prints on museum grade, Hahnemuhle rag paper. Images are supplied with a certificate of authenticity.
