Fiction and Fabrication: Photography of Architecture after the Digital Turn

The field of architectural photography, long rooted in realistic depictions, has begun to see a dramatic shift in approach. Today, traditional styles of photographic representation are giving way to a new form of individualized reality, as advances in technology and techniques open new avenues for manipulating images. Fiction and Fabrication, which accompanies an exhibition at the Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology in Lisbon, explores this trend via a range of contemporary works by some of the world’s most celebrated artists.

These essays highlight the power of digital photography and software like Photoshop to offer one-of-a-kind portraits of modern urban landscapes. The artists discussed include Doug Aitken, Beate Gütschow, Hans Op de Beeck, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Wolfgang Tillmans, and Jeff Wall, among many others. From imaginary buildings to real architecture that at times appears more fantastic than fiction, the art reflects the fresh visual energies that architectural photography can channel in our post-digital age.

Beautifully illustrated with one hundred color images, Fiction and Fabrication takes an engaging look at the intersection of fine art and architectural design. At the same time, the book encourages us to reevaluate the places around us and appreciate all that is—and could be—just before our eyes.